When Peter Baron asked me to write a few words about my first few months as Head of School here at Vermont Academy, I found myself wondering where to begin. I can say that no words of advice from friends who are sitting heads, nor sessions with the great faculty at the Institute for New Heads, can truly do the job of preparing anyone for the job of Head of School. All the best laid plans can be derailed by a rainy Saturday with six home games. What I have noticed is that I am busier than I have ever been, but I have more energy than I have ever had as well. I am continually rejuvenated by what is going well and what is not.

In the category of “was this in the job description?” – we had a live auction scheduled after our community dinner on Parents’ Weekend, and the auctioneer called in ill earlier in the afternoon. When I was approached about what we should do, I said I would do it. Well, let me tell you, it was one of the more exhausting experiences I have ever taken on. You cannot stop talking from the time it starts to the time it ends. But once again, I was energized by the experience as well. And by all accounts, I may have sealed my fate for future years of having to do it. In some ways, being thrown into the forefront of the auction allowed me to better understand what we are trying to accomplish in our fundraisers. It also gave our current parents another window into me as a person and a leader of the school.

While I will only have to be the auctioneer once a year, another addendum to the job description came about this summer when our Director of Communications, Maryann McArdle, suggested I write a blog chronicling my first 100 days on the job. I hesitantly agreed to do it, and while the pressure to get blogs out is frustrating at times, it has been an interesting medium through which I have reflected regularly on what is going on here at Vermont Academy. “BrennanBits” is regularly visited by parents and other visitors to our website, http://brennanblog.edublogs.org/. Having never blogged before, I was initially skeptical, then daunted by what it entailed; however, now I am really into it, and I expect to continue it after my 100-day “sentence” is up. Also noteworthy, we have a pair of students who are beginning their own blog, and we are encouraging other students and adults in the community to do the same.

As November is now upon us, July 1st (my starting date) seems so long ago, but the time has flown by. We will open our newly renovated Learning Center this week, and our performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will debut in two weeks. Before we know it we will be on Thanksgiving Break. It has been an honor to take the reins of Vermont Academy, and I look forward to blogging, auctioneering, and leading for many years to come.

About Sean Brennan
Sean Brennan joined Vermont Academy in July as the sixteenth Head of School. Sean taught English, coached football, and served in various administrative roles at Brunswick School, Salisbury School, Millbrook School, and Hotchkiss School spanning 17 years.