SCHool Magazine Features

I hope SCH continues to pursue its mission with fire and devotion.

“Dr. Dinkins, look what I made!” 

A kindergartener jumped out of his seat as Delvin Dinkins, SCH’s head of school who will step down in June, stopped in the doorway to the classroom before holiday assemblies. The boys were making festive hats alongside their senior buddies. Dr. Dinkins nodded at the boy, smiled, and then wove through the small desks, checking in on each pair of students.

Throughout his years at SCH, Dr. Dinkins has been a constant presence on campus. He connected with the community in countless ways, from greeting students on their first day to attending moving up ceremonies and alumni events. He regularly observed classes, interacted with students during lunch, and celebrated school achievements, whether a sporting victory, a theatrical performance, or a holiday concert. He was a familiar face throughout the campus, deeply engaged in the life of the school and cherishing every opportunity to witness the ordinary and extraordinary moments.

“I find opportunities to stand alongside students and teachers to see them and our academic program in action,” says Dinkins. “I learn a lot from this practice and draw inspiration from it. Our teachers are doing amazing things with our students. I want them to know that I see this, see them, and recognize what they do daily to deliver our mission. As scholarly activities, teaching and learning are fundamentally hard. I want teachers (and students, for that matter!) to know I understand. I’m a teacher and a learner at heart, and I regard teaching and learning with the utmost personal respect.”

Whether at the podium, in his thoughtful missives, or at an impromptu greeting at an event, he has regularly delivered important messages not just about the power of moments but the strength of community and the importance of elevating SCH’s mission.

As Dr. Dinkins' tenure draws to a close, SCHool magazine sat down for an insightful conversation, reflecting on the cherished moments that defined his time at SCH and the strategic initiatives that he helped to define and refine.

Q: You touched on several themes throughout your tenure, including the power of moments, community, chances, and ideas. What do you hope the SCH community will take away from these lessons? A key takeaway is stewardship–of ideas, chances, moments, community, and mission. When we take custody of things that matter to us, we show their meaning and increase their value. Sometimes, we have ideas whose value and potential we initially doubt, perhaps out of fear of committing and taking ownership. However, when we nurture an idea, it can grow into something striking and extraordinary. The same can be said about chances. For many, taking chances can be not only challenging but outright frightening. Often, risk-taking and success are regarded as oppositional. We may avoid taking risks because we fear embarrassment or failure, only to realize that letting go of fear and taking a chance can lead to something new and wonderful. A lesson here is that ideas and chances are invitations; they are ledges that initiate a kind of leap. And a ledge is meaningful and revelatory, as is the leap it invites. I hope the SCH community continues to encounter ledges that inspire impactful leaps. I hope SCH continues to pursue its mission with fire and devotion.

Q: On that note, can you tell us about a powerful moment you experienced as head of school here? The 2022 Convocation was a compelling moment for me. It was my first at SCH and the first time I stood before the entire school community as head of school. The ceremony started with uplifting student performances and thoughtful words from the student leadership, board, and alumni. I can still hear the Lower School students singing “Welcome Here.” Their sweet, angelic voices that rose above that breezy September morning will always ring in my ears. That day, I could not escape the warm smiles, knowing nods, held-open doors, and the “we’re all in this together” vibe that so very much defines SCH. The affection people had for the school was clear and present. I felt it deeply. I remember sharing that my own affection for SCH had swelled throughout my many visits during the head-of-school search process. I explained how I took a chance and let love happen. At my first Convocation, I experienced firsthand what I’ll describe, quite simply, as a radiant community. I could feel people’s attachment to a shared history. There was a profound connection that came from the heart.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing during your tenure? Having come to know the community through deep listening, devoted service, and full-court-press engagement, I am proud of all we have accomplished together. I was repeatedly asked about my vision and plans when I arrived at SCH. These questions came from all corners of the campus and many points beyond. Having met individually with well over 200 community members by the dawn of 2023, I immediately understood that any vision and plans should be of the community, not from one individual or one body. When the time seemed right, the process for envisioning our future would be broad, inclusive, and rigorous. The result? A guiding strategic framework.

At my first Convocation, I experienced firsthand what I’ll describe, quite simply, as a radiant community. I could feel people’s attachment to a shared history. There was a profound connection that came from the heart.
 

Q: Was there a thrilling athletic moment or achievement that you witnessed? There have been so many, but the one I reach for most readily is the 2022 girls' soccer PAISAA championship game against Episcopal Academy. It was contested at the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken. Going into the game, our girls' team had been undefeated in the league, had claimed the league championship—its third in a row—and owned an impressive 18-1-3 record. It was Abby Kenkelen '23 who scored the winning goal, thanks to an assist from Lisa McIntyre '23 and Alex Reilly '24. Being back-to-back state champions, the team delivered an incredible win and season that made school history! Notably, the seniors had never lost an Inter-Ac game in four years.

Q: Is there a school tradition or event that you enjoyed/represents SCH well? There are so many, but I especially enjoy Convocation. Our official welcome to the school year, it’s a defining occasion that relies on the energy of the whole community. Technically speaking, it’s the only time when we all come together in person. The procession from the Lower School, with bagpipers leading the way, is something to behold. Like many others, I enter every school year with an immense sense of possibility and ambitious goals. Perhaps one of the most elevated examples of school pride, Convocation is an occasion for connection, inspiration, and aspiration heading into the school year.

Q: As you mentioned, you prioritized implementing a strategic framework, diving into important surveys and research from the moment you arrived. Can you elaborate on why you wanted to leave a framework as your legacy? It was clear to me when I arrived that the strategic priorities could not be presumptuous or self-indulgent. Instead, they needed to reflect our community's shared hopes and dreams. To better position our school for sustainable growth and success, we must promote our core strengths, further distance ourselves from the pack, and address areas requiring attention. The strategic framework's priorities, commitments, and initiatives can be traced back to insights gleaned from the data we collected from what the community shared. They represent the right choices—the right things to do, not all things. The framework serves as a guiding light and an enduring focal point as we anticipate tomorrow's demands while delivering the most impact today. Why pursue this work when I won’t be here to see things through? With schools at an inflection point, I care deeply that the SCH community flourishes.

Q: What “action items” resulting from the framework are most exciting to you? Why are you proud of what’s already being done? I am proud of and excited about all the strategic priorities and the commitments and initiatives spun out from them. Our efforts devoted to intentional and embedded innovation, in particular, have gained momentum. Buttressing our existing commitment to innovation, we are fostering and sustaining a culture of experimentation among our faculty and staff by promoting a bottom-up approach to innovation. Our newly launched innovation incubator encourages faculty and staff agency and ownership. Designed to champion, incentivize, and reward innovation, this incubator invites faculty and staff to submit proposals for ideas that align with SCH’s mission and values. Microgrants are available to fund ideas, providing the resources and support needed for faculty and staff to experiment and implement creative solutions. We’re talking about new approaches to teaching, new ways of thinking, new ways of working, and new applications of technology that advance our mission. A dozen faculty and staff have been awarded microgrants, with their proposals ranging from outdoor education to human resource management. We cannot underestimate the potential for these sandbox projects to be scaled for a more significant impact. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to sustainable innovation, long-term growth, and investing in our people.

Q: How do you hope that the strategic framework continues to guide SCH Academy and its community in the years to come? The environment is competitive, and the future of work is evolving. The downstream impacts on independent schools are evident. Amid inevitable and constant change, the time is ripe to consider what lies ahead for SCH. Strategy involves making an integrated set of choices that collectively positions the school to achieve its desired results. Focus on areas of strength and areas that should be strengths. Unlike a plan, which mimics a to-do list, the strategic framework is a tool to align critical decisions about the institution’s future with its mission, values, vision, priorities, commitments, and initiatives. As the pace of change in the world accelerates, strategy has become less about planning and more about positioning and persistent execution in response to both seen and unforeseen circumstances. Think compass, not map: What are those things we need to do now to move in the right direction and toward “future us?” Thus, the strategic framework is a living document designed to be agile, aspirational, and responsive as needs arise and conditions change. Societal shifts, the changing landscape of education, and new thinking from leadership, faculty, and staff may inspire updates over time. Therefore, the commitments and initiatives should be continuously evaluated and revised to meet evolving needs.

Dr. Dinkins will take on his role as head of school at Gill St. Bernard's School in July.