Pat Tutwiler will look back on his six years at Wayland High School and remember transitions and milestones and implemented initiatives.
But mostly, he'll remember the people.
"I'm proud of the fact I feel like kids know me," Tutwiler said, seated comfortably in the office he'll occupy as Wayland High School's principal for just another 10 days.
On July 1, Tutwiler announced he had accepted a position with Boston Public Schools. His last day at the helm of Wayland High School is July 12; from there he'll become interim headmaster -- that's a principal in the Boston Public School System -- at the Brighton High School, the school where he began his teaching career. In Boston, an interim administrator position comes with assurance of a longer term appointment within the system even if not within the same school, Tutwiler explained.
Tutwiler recalled that he arrived at Wayland High in the summer of 2007 and met with the then-president of the student council. She had one request of him: "You should be present in our lives."
"What a profound request and deep request," Tutwiler said. "That's what I've endeavored to do here. I don't take credit for much of the success here; I do feel like I did some justice to that request."
It's an element of Tutwiler's administration style that stands out to Wayland Superintendent Paul Stein, too.
"Losing Pat Tutwiler is a big loss to the school system and the community as a whole," Stein said. "I think he just established a really strong sense of community in the school and a healthy sense of where teens should be at.
He's a person who has been the leader of that community and creating that sense of community."
A Decision to Make
About two weeks ago, Tutwiler received a phone call from a former colleague at Brighton High School, where Tutwiler taught from 2000-2004. She asked him whether she could recommend him for the school's newly open headmaster position.
"My knee-jerk reaction was, 'No, I'm good. I'm completely settled where I am,'" Tutwiler remembers. Still, he agreed to meet with with Boston Public Schools.
"Fifteen or 20 minutes into that conversation, I'm thinking, 'This is something you have to do," Tutwiler explains of his meeting with the hiring team for Boston Public Schools.
Two days after school released for the summer, Tutwiler got the offer. That night, he called Stein.
"Paul is someone whom I really do love as a person," Tutwiler said. "He's just a good man. But he also is someone I respect infinitely as a colleague, so that conversation ...," he trailed off. "I didn't want to disappoint Paul."
He need not have worried.
"I respect Pat," Stein said. "He's put a lot of energy into Wayland and there comes a time when people need to kind of move on, and I just respect that. He's leaving things in good shape."
Tutwiler knows that the timing of his announcement isn't ideal, but he and Stein both said they are confident Wayland High School will come through the transition well.
"With Scott [Parseghian] and Allison [Mizoguchi] there and the department chairs, they will carry Wayland High School just fine," Stein said. "I also know that the thing that makes Wayland High School a strong community is the faculty, the parents and students together."
A New Challenge
Tutwiler considers his time in Wayland to have been one of growth both for himself and the school system.
But he admits he is drawn to working in an urban school system; it's why he got into education to begin with. As he transitions to Brighton, Tutwiler is under no illusions that he'll see elements such as the 1:1 laptop initiative or the China exchange program as easily implemented there as he did in Wayland.
"There are some things that will be harder to implement," he admitted. "But truthfully that's why I want to go. Now I have to be really super creative and resourceful to make things happen."
It is, in fact, Tutwiler's resourcefulness that attracted Boston Public Schools.
"We are confident that he has both the vision and collaborative skills to define the future direction of Brighton High and the working knowledge and expertise to help the Brighton community carry out this vision," Assistant Chief of Staff Laura Dziorny said in a statement to Patch. "Dr. Tutweiler brings with him a proven track record of strong leadership in addressing achievement gaps and promoting academic success for all learners."
Even as he prepares for the next challenge in his career, Tutwiler insists his time in Wayland will remain treasured time.
"I'm really grateful for the opportunity I was given here," Tutwiler said. "I'll never forget this place. I grew professionally and I think we – not just me, but teachers, parents, town agencies – have done some really good things for kids here."
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