Introducing COLLEGIATE'S NEW H Nathan Washer brings a wealth of educational experience to his new role as our next Head of School. He also brings a great deal of warmth, wit, and humor, and I hope those traits and more come across to you in Nathan’s answers to these fun and unconventional interview questions. Enjoy! // Katie Hatfield Gunzelman ’07 What were you like in high school? My most vivid memories of high school center around athletics. I played rugby, soccer, basketball, and cricket, and ran track for the school. In addition, I played for the All City team in rugby and the County for track. I was fortunate enough to be very fast, which came in handy on the rugby field as I was also 6 feet plus at 14 years old. I was not taking school too seriously until around the age of 15. The Head of PE at my school, Mr. Ken Morgan, took me under his wing and talked about me “not wasting my brain.” From that point on, when I reflect on it now, I wanted to be a teacher like Mr. Morgan. There is little doubt that if most of my teachers were told now that Nathan Washer is to be a Head of School, there would be some surprised looks on their faces! What originally attracted you to work in education? As well as the influence of Ken Morgan (see above), my paternal grandmother was someone I was very close to growing up. She was an inspiring and strong presence who lost her husband to cancer when my father was 10 years old. At 35 years old, my grandmother went back to school and trained to be a teacher. She didn’t have a car and took three buses to get to college each day. After graduating, she taught 25 years in a local elementary school, eventually becoming Assistant Head of School. I never forget the respect afforded my grandmother as she walked around our section of the town I grew up in, even years after she had retired. It left a deep impression on me and ultimately it was something that drew me to education. I saw the impact you could have on students’ lives and it made me want to be a part of it. What most excites you about moving to Wichita? It is the people I have met that most excite me about Wichita. Interviewing for the Head of School position was about a four-month process and, during that time, I was in conversations with a number of different schools, but I connected immediately with the people involved in Collegiate’s search process. My semi-final interview was the first semi-final interview I had been on and the two days were a lot of fun. I was having exciting conversations about schools and what makes a great independent school, and I was really enjoying 12
the company of the people involved. I was also so impressed with how nice everyone was from the first waitress I met to the man I met in the elevator at the hotel. I remember going home and telling Mary that there must be something in the water because it is uncanny how nice everyone is. Since that time, every time I visit I have learned more about the school and the city, and each time I get more excited about the opportunity. The faculty and staff are passionate about their school and the students and parents clearly care about their community. I am coming from a school that actually markets itself as a family and I was looking for a similar place. I think I have found it in Collegiate. What is the title of the last book you read? Did you enjoy it? I always have at least two books on the go at any one time. Typically, it’s one that is work related and one that is for fun. I actually collect books and have been able to make some great finds in antique bookstores over the years, but as for the last ones I read… For work, I just finished Contented Cows Still Give Better Milk, which is a newly revised version of a business strategy book I read about 20 years ago. It’s a simple, practical, and common sense book and anyone in a leadership position in any organization should read it. For fun, I read a book called Unspoken, about the British Soccer player Gary Speed. It was an interesting read as he was a man at the top of everything, famous, lovely young family, had become an international coach, and then out of the blue one night took his own life. It happened about nine years ago and anyone who follows soccer in Britain will remember how shocked everyone was. I was hoping the book would shed some light on the mental health issues surrounding such an event, but it slightly disappointed as it only really touched the surface of the subject. I am also waiting for the next Jo Nesbo book to come out. He is a crime/thriller author from Norway and his books are fantastic. I read the entire Detective Harry Hole series back-to-back once I discovered him, so now he needs to catch up with my reading and get the next one out soon.
