List of 9 frequently asked questions.
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My primary roles at Thacher
Director of diversity, equity, & inclusion, assistant dean of students, and an English faculty member. -
What my students call me
Mr. B or Mr. Balano. -
I knew I wanted to work at Thacher when
I was very intrigued after reading the mission and philosophy statements. Then, after meeting the members of the Thacher community and visiting the campus for the first time, I knew it was a special place. -
Since you asked me to brag, here are the professional accomplishments I'm most proud of
I am most proud of the relationships I’ve made throughout my professional career, with colleagues, students, and their families. I have been very blessed to have worked with, learned from, and taught some amazing people. Few professional accomplishments I could name would have been possible without the belief, support, and commitment of others. -
Favorite place in my imagination
An equitable and just world. -
Favorite place at Thacher
The bench overlooking the soccer field at sunset. -
When not in the classroom, I can be found
Hiking or biking, spending time with my son, Marcus (class of 2021), reading, feeding my basketball obsession (watching, playing, discussing, reading—anything hoops related), exploring my new SoCal surroundings, or visiting family and friends in the Bay Area. -
The book, movie, work of art, or piece of music I cannot imagine life without
I can’t imagine life without books or music in general; specifically, Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, Homer’s The Odyssey, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley) are a few of the transformative works in my life, but there are so many that have deeply impacted me. If you ask me tomorrow, I might give a different response. Same with music. I’ve been going back to old school artists lately—lots of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Parliament. I know this is more than one—but how do you choose? It’s like being asked to choose your favorite child. -
What I want to be when I grow up (now)
A good father, son, brother, colleague, educator, and friend. It’s a tall order, but I’m working on it.
A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.