Ryan Reese was named the head of Watkinson’s Upper School in July.

Watkinson Head of Upper School Ryan Reese. Submitted photo

Submitted

Watkinson School, Hartford’s oldest co-ed independent day school for grades 6-PG, is proud to announce Ryan Reese of Simsbury, CT has been selected for the position of Head of Upper School effective July, 2016.

Reese is coming from the Field School in Washington D.C. where he currently serves as Director of Student Life as well as Head of the 12th Grade. He has been at the Field School since 2007, building an accomplished career as an educator while teaching in two departments, coaching three varsity sports, growing the activities and honors programming and working in the highest levels of the school’s student guidance team.

Reese ran the Field School’s Student Government for the past six years, evaluated grading differences between departments to find more uniform grading practices, and identified peak moments of stress for students and used the data to improve communication to mitigate those crunch times through better assignment coordination. In addition to this work, Reese oversaw the Honors and Activities programs through a moment of significant growth and expansion in terms of the number of participants.

Reese has also led a very accomplished career in athletics at the Field School. As the boys basketball head coach, he had 89 career wins, led the team to the playoffs every season, and never had a losing record. He coached the 2008 Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) Boys Basketball Champions, including the PVAC Player of the Year, and set the school record for most wins in a season. Reese also coached girls soccer, making the playoffs every year and never having a losing record. During his time coaching, the team reached the PVAC Girls Soccer Championship three years in a row (2008-2010), winning in 2008 with the PVAC Player of the Year awarded to a member of his team. He also coached baseball, reaching the PVAC Baseball Championship in 2011.

Head of Watkinson School Teri Schrader commented, “We are thrilled and delighted that Ryan Reese will join us as Head of Upper School. Ryan brings experience, energy, and new perspectives to Watkinson, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him this summer. Ryan has been an accomplished classroom teacher as well as Dean at the Field School, where he demonstrated tremendous capacity for working with students and adults alike in the many aspects and arenas of school leadership. We are beyond excited for him to be here at Watkinson!”

“I am ecstatic,” Reese said, “I fell in love with the school during my visits to campus, and I was so inspired by the faculty and students.  I think that Watkinson is at an exciting and pivotal moment in its history.  As the school embarks upon the implementation of its new strategic plan, there is a clear path ahead, and I look forward to embracing the challenges within this collective and collaborative work.”

Watkinson School is a co-educational day school for grades 6-PG.  Founded in 1881, Watkinson is Hartford’s oldest independent school.  Watkinson’s next open house for prospective students is September 23 at 9 a.m.