Interview with Patrick Brown

Patrick Brown was appointed Head of School by the Board of Trustees in July 2006.  More biography information can be found under "Contact us", "Read our biographies"

Who is Patrick Brown?
I am a California native, born in Southern California.  My family moved to the Bay Area when I was 11 and I attended junior high, high school, and college in the Bay Area before moving to Tucson, Arizona for 23 years. 

I graduated from St. Francis High School in Mountain View and have a BA degree in Political Science from Stanford University.  I also have a Master’s in History from the University of Arizona. 

I am the father of three boys. My oldest son attends the University of Massachusetts and plays soccer for the school (yes, it is odd that a desert rat would end up in the northeast to play soccer!).  The middle son attends the University of Oregon and loves all things outdoors from skiing, to rafting, to rock climbing. My youngest son is in high school enjoying football and soccer.

Professionally, I discovered my passion for working with children while at Stanford, where I volunteered in different children’s programs.  My first employment upon graduation was with at-risk youth in a variety of settings.  Upon moving to Tucson, I began my work in education. I worked in a public school for one year before moving to an independent grades 6-12 school for 10 years.  There I worked in all facets of school life – history teacher, coach, activity advisor, Athletic Director and Dean of Students’. 

I was then the Head of School at a K-8 Episcopal School, St. Michael’s Parish Day School, for over 11 years. With the support of the community, we were able to more than double its enrollment to 360 students. We also created fiscally sound operations, while remunerating teachers at a fair wage, adding and rebuilding to 75% of the campus through successful fundraising of $7 million, and promoting students to high schools, preparing them academically, socially, and emotionally for the next stage of their schooling.

What does it mean to you to be a “Head of School”?

Patrick: That’s a very good question.  I can answer this both philosophically and personally.  Philosophically, first and foremost it means to be a leader.  The Head of School helps set the climate of success for the school through his/her leadership. I take my role as a leader very seriously by creating productive relationships with everyone in the community and intentionally implementing practices that help cultivate a positive school environment.  Specifically, this means creating relationships that are built on compassion, trust and integrity.  I establish a coaching relationship with others based on sound listening and communication skills.  The effective leader models these qualities, attributes, and the school’s mission with energy and passion.

In addition to being a visionary leader, the Head also needs to be an effective manager by exhibiting multi-tasking skills and high levels of executive functioning traits.  Proactive listening, observation, and study allow me to assess a community’s needs.  Once a need is identified, a careful plan that engenders support from many in the school community needs to be devised.  That plan should have enough detail to create success, but not so much detail that it is inflexible and derails attainment of the overall objective. Then the plan needs to be executed and its results evaluated systematically.  My decision-making is predicated upon setting high standards and having the courage to act decisively when facing the unknown.  However, this again requires flexibility and staying focused on the process as well as the overall objective.  In the review process, I am not afraid to admit a mistake in judgment or execution.

Finally, being a “Head of School” means to me to have an unshakeable belief in the potential for all children to fully meet their capacities as learners, citizens, and as God’s children.
Personally, being a “Head of School” allows me to live out my passion for working with young people and being part of their development into young adults.  I enjoy all the roles that come with that from that relationship - guide, mentor, cheerleader, teacher, supporter, and disciplinarian. 

In addition, the independent school culture that emphasizes the life of the mind as an essential ingredient to a fulfilled life matches my personal belief.  An independent school also creates a culture of learning and growth that expects everyone to meet his or her potential in all facets.  It does this by setting high expectations, providing opportunity for growth, and by meeting individual needs defined by the school community. I find being part of collaborative team and community that provide the best for young people’s growth and development gratifying. 

Finally, I take satisfaction in empowering students, faculty, staff, and families to meet the challenges they face as the school community strives for excellence. 

Questions for Patrick?
Are you a parent or future parent of a St. Stephen's child?
Send your questions to Patrick by e-mail at patrickbrown@saintstephensschool.org