Spy Profile: Kent School’s New Headmaster Chris Gorycki

Spy: What attracted you to this position?

CG: I have held a number of positions in independent schools, including, most recently, assistant headmaster of Montgomery School in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, and I was ready to become a headmaster. When I saw Kent School and Chestertown, I knew immediately that this was the place I wanted to be.

Spy: What were your first impressions?

CG: People work hard here, and the school and the community are not pretentious. I also liked the connection to the land and the river, especially since I grew up in Manhattan.

Spy: What is your educational background?

CG: I graduated from Salisbury School in Connecticut, which is an all boys’ school that is more than 100 years old. I went to Long Island University and earned a master’s degree in education from Columbia University.

Spy: Do you have a family?

CG: My wife’s name is Cri-Cri. We have a daughter, Taylor, who attends the Hill School and a son, Christopher, who is in eighth grade – his last year- at Montgomery School. Cri-Cri and Christopher will stay in Pennsylvania during the weekdays until May so that he can finish the school year at Montgomery.

Spy: What do you want to accomplish here?

CG: First of all, I want to stay awhile. There has been a lot of turnover at Kent School. It’s important to get to know the culture of a place well. In the short run, I want to incorporate technology more in all aspects of the school. Technology is a great tool for collaboration. The school has a great location, but it is hard to get enough broadband width.

I also want to recruit more students. Kent School is a good investment. I’m driven by a desire to make a difference at a stage in children’s lives when their identities are being formed, when they have joy and curiosity. There are many opportunities for leadership in a small independent school.

Spy: What is your philosophy regarding the recruitment of teachers?

CG: I will look for teachers who possess a strong knowledge of their subject area, love and understand kids, have a sense of humor, and think of themselves as lifelong students.

Spy: What is the educational philosophy at Kent School?

CG: We focus on pursuing excellence in all areas, and we focus on good citizenship and good manners.

Spy: How does the school interact with the community?

CG: October 14th will be our 11^th annual Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Program, which is open to the public. This program is named for two former students who loved books and who died in an accident. This year our visiting writer will be Barry Louis Polisar, who wrote, among many stories and songs, the opening song to the movie Juno.

Also open to the public is our first annual mini-triathlon, which will be held October 15^th.  Proceeds will benefit Kent School’s need-based scholarship program.

Spy: Kent School serves children from the age of three until the end of eighth grade. Are there distinguishing characteristics of the school’s graduates?

CG: Kent School graduates have self-esteem and self-awareness. They appreciate the potential that lies ahead and they appreciate the opportunities they have had here. Graduates provide important feedback, and many of them send their own children here.

Spy: Good Luck, Mr. Gorycki!