Get to Know Our New Head of School
A lot of things changed here at Commonwealth-Parkville School this past summer. Not only was our very own former English teacher, Mrs. Dinorah “Dina” Rechani, promoted to the Commonwealth Director, four new teachers also joined our Comets family. Additionally, we started off this school year with a new Head of School, Dr. Alan Austen. Since Dr. Austen now plays such an important role in our school, and many students seem to know little about his many qualifications or his educational beliefs, I conducted an interview with him which will hopefully provide insightful information about our new Head of School to the student body. So, without further ado, I present to you my interview with the Head Master:
What originally sparked your interest in education?
It’s really interesting; I studied engineering in college, but after about three years, I realized that engineering was not a field that I was going to be interested in, and in the back of my mind I really wanted to be a teacher. What held me back was the fact that I had three children. Raising and supporting them meant that education had to be put on the back burner. Years later, my wife completed her master’s degree and we both went into education at the same time. I started out teaching English, and worked also as a library media person, doing research work and library work in a large suburban high school in Long Island. In that same school district I became a building principal, a district level administrator (assistant superintendent), and then I was appointed superintendent of schools in 1984, and from 1984-1994 I served as superintendent in that particular school district. In 1994 I went to Baldwin. Basically, [Education] was always in the back of my mind, tugging at my thoughts and encouraging me to pursue [it].
When did you get your doctorate in education?
I got my doctorate while I was superintendent of schools, which was quite an adventure. It required a tremendous amount of effort. I went to Columbia University in New York, which is the premier education university in the United States. The program was extremely demanding, but also extremely rewarding and exciting. It was the only time when I truly felt like a scholar.
How do you think that being the Head of School in European schools (The American School of Milan, where you were Head of School for ten years, and the Frankfurt International School, where you were Interim Head of School for one year) has changed your ideas about education in the 21st century, if at all?
Well, as you may know, those schools serve the educational needs of children from all around the world. In Frankfurt we had fifty-eight separate countries represented in the student population. In Milan it ranged between fifty-two and fifty-four different countries represented, and I think it’s changed me by allowing me to recognize that the American model [for education], although an interesting model, is not the beginning and the end of the world. There are many needs, requirements, and areas of exploration in other countries that also have great value in education. It is my hope that I can bring some of those thoughts here to Commonwealth.
What are your primary goals in terms of reforming education at the high school and middle school level here at Commonwealth-Parkville School?
Let me say, I don’t view it as reforming. What I will be able to do here is to provide add-ons, to enhance the programs that exist here, and those kinds of things will basically bubble up from students. I’m more interested in what you want, than I am in trying to impose my thoughts, or my feelings, or my attitudes and opinions on you. I’m much more interested in having high-interest subjects provided to students on a regular basis. If students want to learn about something, I think we have an obligation to expose them to it, to teach them those courses.
What stands out to you the most about the varied student body at Commonwealth?
Having spent many years here in Puerto Rico, and being deeply involved in Puerto Rican culture and life, I find that the students here at Commonwealth reflect the values of the Puerto Rican culture. They are respectful, they are honorable, and some of the most wonderful and exciting young people that I’ve ever met in my life are here on this island.
What has been your favorite Comets Café meal, so far?
My favorite is the rice and beans. I thoroughly enjoy them.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Chocolate. Nothing fancy, just simple chocolate.
If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
Easy Rider because I see it as a metaphor for youth in the United States exploring, looking out there at everything that’s going on, experiencing new and different things, and being pretty decent, honorable people.
What is one book that you would recommend to anyone you meet?
The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way; it’s all about how education affects young people in different cultures and how in a community that values rigorous, quality education, and insists upon having that in its schools, students will do well.
Would you say that that book values the importance of nurture as opposed to nature in terms of academic capability, and would you agree with such an outlook?
I do. In a general sense, I believe that if educators focus on cultural values and then encourage young people to explore, open their eyes, and be willing to listen to ideas, magic happens.
Is there anything you’d like to tell the student body?
All that I want for the students to understand is that I’m here to make their lives better and to improve, on a regular basis, everything that we do for them. I’m here for the students, and my hope is that over time you all will realize that.
Evidently, Dr. Austen has some interesting and insightful ideas about education. With a doctorate from Columbia University and over forty-eight years of experience in the field of education, he is more than qualified to run our school. If you’d like to learn more about his career check out the breakdown of his past positions as Head of School in the school website.
