Q&A WITH TOM DODD

What does it mean to be an American?

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I still believe in the American dream, but I don’t know if it’s a real dream anymore. The idea that you, just by growing up in America, that you’re going to have a better life than your parents, I don’t know if that’s true anymore . ... What are you doing to contribute to your community and society as a citizen? ... I think you should have an appreciation and show respect for your parents and the people that came before you who made this nation great.

What moment touched and motivated you in your work?

I lose sleep over the big tragedies that happen. We’ve had students attempt suicide. We’ve had students (die by) suicide, while they’re students here, ages 11-14, or shortly after leaving here as a freshman, sophomore, junior in high school. I also lose sleep over the inequity of it all. Every day I come to work, I realize I don’t have what I need to do the job to the level I want. I’ve got 770 kids from diverse backgrounds; I have 75 adults in this school. And I’ve never been an educator who’s crying about money, saying, “We need more money.” What touches me and motivates me is knowing that there’s work to do.

What gives you hope and what concerns you?

I have faith in people, in spite of the fact that we have such disunity and partisanship. I just have faith in everything, that it’s all going to work out. That human beings and people are inherently good. That parents want what you want. No. 1, they want someone to love and care about and know their kid. I tell my teachers that all the time. What concerns me is our partisanship and differences and the fact that we can’t come together on some core values . ... And how can you have a good intellectual conversation without some foundational agreement on core values? What gives me hope is my fundamental belief ... that we can get there, that people are inherently good.