Brad Bates, who recently retired after 18 years as head of the Dublin School, reflects on his time as the helm of his alma mater.
What is the biggest change you have seen in 18 years as head of school?
The advent of smartphones has had a profound impact on young people and schools over the last 18 years. The author Jonathan Haidt and many others have documented how phones, social media, and screen time have led to increased anxiety and more social isolation among school-aged youths. We have clearly seen this development at Dublin School and have worked intentionally to mitigate its effects. We have doubled down on discussion-based classes, outdoor learning, mandatory afternoon activities — basically any opportunities that encourage all members of our community to interact with one another, face-to-face.
What do you consider your legacy for the school?
I believe my primary legacy has been assembling great teams. I learned so much from coaching rowers for two decades, and what is needed to make a fast boat. I have found that the best teams are made of diverse individuals who think differently from one another, and yet are excited to work together to determine what is best for student growth. I spent a great deal of my 18 years working with others to assemble a great board of trustees, an outstanding leadership team, and a faculty and staff that cares deeply about young people. None of our accomplishments during this time would have been possible without these teams.
What do you see as the role of independent schools today? What are the greatest strengths of independent schools?
I have worked in both public and independent schools during my 35-year career, and I see strengths in both approaches to education. It is important to acknowledge that independent schools often are privileged to have the resources to meet the changing demands of education. I have always appreciated the flexibility, nimbleness and freedom of independent schools. I love running with a good idea from a teacher, administrator, parent, or trustee, and small independent schools in particular provide the freedom to move quickly to support an idea that improves our ability to help students grow. For instance, we are currently building an outdoor campus that will allow our students to spend a small part of their year learning without screens, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
What was your biggest surprise in your time as Head of School?
Young people continually surprise me. It is hard to think of one example. When you surround young people with outstanding educators on a beautiful campus, magic happens. I love working with this age group, for their brains are like rubber bands; if you take them seriously and challenge them appropriately, they can do amazing things creatively, intellectually, socially, and athletically. I tried to coach at least one sports team a year so I could witness these surprises daily.
What was your biggest challenge in your time as Head of School?
COVID was definitely the biggest challenge we faced during my time at Dublin School. There was an immense weight tied to my responsibility to keep everyone safe on our campus. Ninety employees and 170 students were counting on us to provide an education and keep them safe. The hardest part for me was feeling like the masked (faceless) administrator, constantly reminding people to keep their distance from one another. That was hard for a community built on close relationships. I was proud that we got through that period and came out stronger on the other end. We learned so much and added new elements to our program, such as long learning blocks and a January term. But I do not think I could do that again!
As other independent schools have closed, would you like to comment on how Dublin has been able to thrive?
We are very fortunate to be in the position we are. I think Dublin School is doing well because we remain close to our original mission, and we are not trying to be all things to all people. I believe strongly that all schools were founded for a reason, and the more faithful we are to that original idea, the more likely we are to thrive. The Lehmann Family founded the school, believing that students should have a rigorous curriculum, should not be entitled, should help care for the school and its campus, that the arts are foundational to learning and growth, and that athletics teach us many life lessons while building our resilience. We have adapted to the times, but we have never strayed from these original principles. On top of that, we have great people, a stunning campus in a particularly special region of New England, and a strong endowment recently built for the school’s future.
What do you see for the future in Dublin School or schools like Dublin?
I think Dublin School is more relevant than ever. I believe parents are craving an authentic education. I believe they want their kids to be surrounded by a diverse community; they want educators who know their kids; they want their kids to be required to participate in activities; and they want their kids to be outside as much as possible. The key for Dublin and similar schools will be in getting this message across to parents from around the country and around the world.
What would you like parents considering Dublin School to know?
I would like parents to know that we are thrilled to welcome the next head of school, Sam Bicknell, his wife Ellie, and their three wonderful children to the school. Sam is the right person for the job, and I am excited to watch from afar as he builds on the foundation that is here while adding his own vision to the mix. There has not been a better time to look closely at Dublin School and what it has to offer.