Mr. Alexander Tiren
Welcome Letter to Oak Hill Charter School:
To the families, teachers, and staff of Oak Hill Charter School —
Hello! I am excited to come work with you all, to get to know this community, and to contribute to the good work you are already accomplishing. The glimpses I’ve had of Oak Hill so far have impressed me: the enthusiasm of your board, the diligence of the staff members I’ve met, and the giant pile of food donations collected by the students. My thoughts can be summed up in one simple compliment: this is a place where good people are doing good education.
All leadership changes come with a degree of uncertainty, especially when a school year is already underway. It will take some time for us to get to know each other. But as we do so, we can at least be assured by the fact that we’ve all chosen this school for a reason: we are dedicated to the children in this community having access to a rigorous, back-to-basics education. There are certainly easier professions than working at a charter school, and there are certainly easier places to send your kids to school. I’m grateful to have the chance to work with people who embrace that challenge.
A bit about me: this is my thirteenth year in charter school education. I taught English for many years, before transitioning into administration five years ago. It was tough to leave the classroom, where I got to read Dante, Homer, and Shakespeare with my students on a daily basis, but there was a need in my school and I decided to embrace the opportunity to serve my school community in a new way. While I still miss my classroom, I’ve seen how rewarding supporting teachers, guiding students, and serving families as an administrator can be. This is the work I want to be doing.
My background is in classical education, which embraces similar ideas to Oak Hill’s back-to-basics approach, including a rich curriculum like Core Knowledge. I look forward to becoming more familiar with Core Knowledge, and learning from you all, who are implementing it on a daily basis.
I currently live in Shelby, NC, with my wife, Alexia (yes, we are both Alex!), who is a veterinarian, and my son, Benedict, who turned three this year and currently loves chasing our dog, making up songs about our Christmas tree, and seeing if he can put me in a wrestling submission by tackling me from behind every chance he gets (he’s not quite there yet, but it’s coming).
We’re all looking forward to being part of the Oak Hill community and I thank you for your kindness in welcoming us.
I will be at the school on December 18 (the half day before winter break), where I trust I will have the opportunity to meet many of you and begin getting to know you all as individuals and as a community.
Please accept my early wishes for a pleasant and meaningful holiday season!
Regards, Alex Tiren