Message from the Headmaster

By Patrick Carruth

I CHUCKLED AS I WALKED AWAY from the copy machine. Lea Hysom, Bear Creek’s Director of Health Services, had just handed me a printout from the CDC which indicated a new respiratory virus had appeared in China and recommended that schools and families prepare for major inconveniences to the rhythm of their lives. Specifically, schools should formulate non- pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in preparation for this new virus arriving in the United States. I had heard things like this before, and many of them never came to pass, so I advised caution in proceeding.

Lea smiled and walked away, but a week later, we had a very similar conversation and immediately began preparing the NPIs that would become the first wave of our pandemic response. When the COVID-19 leadership team first met virtually on a cold Sunday afternoon in March 2020 to plan and draft communication about remote learning, each member of that team dedicated themselves to doing whatever it took to ensure that the mission of The Bear Creek School continued.

The word leadership has its etymology in “one who has quality or skill in guiding others,” and depending on personality and skill set, that guidance may take the form of galvanizing, inspiring, instructing, assisting, or mentoring. However, regardless of style, the critical element of good leadership is humility. The scriptures explain this, “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’” (Matthew 20:25-28)

When I chuckled by the copy machine at Lea’s concern about COVID-19, she could have become frustrated at my tepid reply. When I approached the team with what probably seemed like an impossible task, they could have complained about the extra hours this challenge would require. But each demonstrated the humble and tenacious leadership that helped launch an effective pandemic response at The Bear Creek School.

As you read through the pages of this Modus Vivendi, it is our hope you see similar leadership development taking place at The Bear Creek School, as we prepare students to lead with wisdom, compassion, and courage.