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YW Boston recently caught up with Gavin Smith, Head of School at Boston Latin Academy and LeadBoston Class of 2020 alum, to discuss his current role and LeadBoston experience. 

Tell us a bit about your current role and what drives your work.  

I am the proud Head of School of the Boston Latin Academy Dragons, here in Boston Public Schools. I am entering my 5th year in this role and my 10th year overall. My work is driven by an undeniable belief in the students of Boston and their ability to shape the future of this city and our country. I have been blessed to see the genius that exists within the youth of our city and believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that we are helping students and families accomplish their goals; whether that be continuing family legacies, starting new traditions, or shifting generational outcomes. I have seen the power in good teaching and good schools and believe every student in the city, regardless of what their circumstance is, deserves access to this.  

How did your LeadBoston experience shape the way you lead or approach equity work today? 

In LeadBoston, I was able to meet individuals from many different walks of life. Seeing them lead, and continuing to follow their journeys is the gift that keeps on giving. The LeadBoston experience exposed me to others who believe that equitable leadership is tantamount to good leadership and that has helped further solidify my belief in this type of leadership in my current role.  

What’s giving you hope right now—in your work, your community, or the world? 

The youth! We have an opportunity to mold the masses, to help cultivate free and informed thinkers, doers, change agents. We have an opportunity, particularly at my institution, to shift who shows up to the table and how they show up to those tables in the city, ensuring that we as a city continue more opportunities to amplify all voices. We see this at so many levels now, from elected officials to who is in our school, and I think continuing to build on that will only make our world better.  

Have you taken on any leadership roles since completing the program? 

I did the program as the Associate Head of School at Fenway High School and a year later I was appointed the 17th Head of School of Boston Latin Academy. This is something I am very proud of.  

Have you had the opportunity to mentor others in your field since completing the program? 

Every opportunity I get to mentor I take. I love the art of teaching and learning, sharing what I have learned with others so they can do well, hopefully accelerate their learning, and help them avoid some of the pitfalls that I’ve experienced in my role. Formally, I’ve supported two current school leaders and numerous other Assistant Heads of Schools. In addition to this, I host monthly outings for school leaders of color where we can engage in community, breaking bread and learning from each other.  

Have you been involved in any volunteer or community work related to your field? 

I am on several boards including Summer Search and the Journal of Emerging Investigators. I am also on an Advisory Board for both the Boston Teacher Residency and Minds Matter Boston. There are many opportunities that come up that I do my best to participate in service of community. 

Have you pursued any further education or professional development opportunities since completing the program? 

This year I will be participating in the Cahn Fellowship and I have also been accepted into a doctoral program. I would like to further build my leadership capacity and explore ways I can grow as a contributor to spaces in the city of Boston and beyond.  

Have you had any challenges or obstacles in your professional journey since completing the program, and how did you overcome them? 

I’ve experienced many challenging moments, but as with anything, reflective practice is valuable. I have been tremendously grateful for my village and mentors for their advice and support during this time. Ultimately, I have learned that leadership comes with many things, and sometimes those things do not define who you are, but they can help you become who you want to be within your role. I have worked hard to build positive relationships, remember why I do the work that I do, and continue to be unapologetically me in spaces that may not be used to someone showing up as such on a daily basis.  

How have you stayed connected with others from the program or the organization that hosted it? 

We have a group email thread and I see a few of them from time to time. I thank folks for bringing me in spaces and allowing me to share a bit about my work, one such LB member was Andrea McGrath who recently passed. She invited me to Boston College to share about leading an organization.  

What advice do you have for current or prospective participants in the program? 

Learn from the people in the program and stay connected. You will truly meet some wonderful people in your LeadBoston experience, it’s important that you help to make them part of your village.  

What are your future goals and how do you plan to achieve them? 

Most importantly, on a personal level, I want to be the best father and partner I can be. Working the job I work requires a great deal of commitment to everyone, but yourself. I have two girls who require very little of me to make them happy and I want to do my best to not only provide them with the finances to live a better life than I did, but also the time. 

Secondly, I aim for continued growth in my professional life. BLA and its educators continue to improve yearly and our students reap the benefits of that. My goal is to see continued growth in all of our data and outcomes. Last year we had a number of really great statistical accomplishments and each year I want those numbers to be better than the last