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Q&A with Ray Wilson, Head of School
I first started teaching math and science to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, then taught math and history in high school. About two years into my high school tenure, the head of school said I had to chose one or the other. I’m a sociology major—I love math but that’s not my major. I came back and said I’m going to go down the history path. The reason why is because with math the answers are always the same—there may be multiple ways to get there but the result will be the same. With history, things can change depending on the current climate and there is always the opportunity to compare and contrast today with yesterday. My background in sociology gave me a lens through which to view history and to teach history. I’ve always felt energized by that.
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e are excited and honored to welcome Ray Wilson as our new Head of School, beginning July 1, 2021. Ray brings 28 years of teaching, coaching, and leadership experience in independent schools. As a progressive educator, he believes in the primacy of academics and the value of experiential learning that is relevant to student’s lives. Ray’s impressive breadth of experience in education includes his tenures as history teacher, Middle School & Upper School Director, Director of College Counseling, Director of Athletics, Assistant Dean of Students, international boarding/dorm parent, domestic and international admissions panels, Finance Committee, campus master planning, and new building campaigns and construction. Beyond the campus, Ray is on the Steering Committee of the Pacific Northwest chapter of People of Color in Independent Schools. He has spearheaded diversity workshops on curriculum development, student support, and building inclusive school culture. Northwest School Magazine Editor Margie Combs recently sat down with Ray, on Zoom, for a conversation about teaching, mentoring, and building school community.
Start with your teaching. You have been both a math and history teacher, which is an unusual pairing of interests.
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