Ryan Dahlem, Ninth Head of School, Begins Tenure Tomorrow
On July 1, the next chapter for The Rivers School begins as ninth Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem arrives on campus, ready to assume his new role. In anticipation of this pivotal moment, Alan D. Rose Jr. ’87, president of the Board of Trustees, shared the following letter with the Rivers community.
Greetings, Rivers Community:
In the life of an educational institution, few moments feel more replete with promise and opportunity than the arrival of a new head of school. The Rivers School has not experienced many such moments in our 100-plus years of existence; there have been only seven previous changings of the guard. So while tomorrow will not be marked with any special fanfare on Winter Street, make no mistake: It is a momentous day for Rivers.
We are delighted to celebrate the arrival of our ninth head of school, Ryan S. Dahlem. Ryan is an extraordinary educator and visionary school leader who is perfectly poised to lead Rivers into its next chapter. With degrees from Stanford and Harvard, an impressive track record as a teacher and administrator in a variety of school settings, and an educational philosophy that places students at the center of their learning, Ryan is sure to provide both innovation and continuity, as befits an institution of Rivers’ standing. Over the past 20 years or so, the school’s physical plant, academic offerings, and reputation have soared. Ryan will continue to build on our momentum.
In his own words, Ryan was drawn to Rivers “for its mission, core values, and tradition of Excellence with Humanity, which resonates so deeply with my own educational philosophy. Rivers feels rooted in its rich history, yet forward-thinking and optimistic about its future.” As a man who has scaled the tallest peak on each of the seven continents, Ryan is accustomed to aiming high, and we will surely be the beneficiaries of his vision and ambition for Rivers’ future.
Please join me in welcoming the Dahlem family—Ryan, his wife, Anne, and their three children, Peter, Ella, and Colin—to Weston and celebrating this pivotal, promising moment for Rivers.
Sincerely,
Alan D. Rose, Jr. ’87
President of the Board of Trustees
President of the Board of Trustees
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