June Member Spotlight

Name: Fran Ryan

Company: Broadwater Academy

Title: Head of School

Location: Exmore, Virginia

Member Since: 1966

Family and Background:

Fran is from Salem, Massachusetts and was fortunate to attend an independent school beginning in his secondary school years. His roots are still deep there and his pro teams are all Boston sports teams. He spent the last three decades in Connecticut where he met Whitney and where they raised their children, Charlie and Maggie. Charlie was 'virtually' graduated in spring 2020 from University of California, Berkeley and Maggie is currently a remote student at Barnard College, Columbia University in New York. Education is a priority for the Ryan’s. Along with Fran, Whitney, Charlie and Maggie all were lucky to attend independent schools in the Northeast.
Fran began his work in education as an athletics coach, coaching rowing at a university in Boston and then supplementing his income as a substitute teacher. As his interest in education grew, Fran aspired to be a teacher and coach in an independent school, a familiar and important part of our education system. As his career progressed, it became clear that Fran particularly is interested in human performance whether it is in guiding faculty, twelfth graders or preschoolers to be their very best, curious, educated selves.

What inspired you to pursue a career in education?

Fran began his work in education as an athletics coach, coaching rowing at a university in Boston and then supplementing his income as a substitute teacher. As his interest in education grew, Fran aspired to be a teacher and coach in an independent school, a familiar and important part of our education system. As his career progressed, it became clear that Fran particularly is interested in human performance whether it is in guiding faculty, twelfth graders or preschoolers to be their very best, curious, educated selves.

Define success.

Success is the ability to positively affect the quality of another’s day.

What is your favorite thing about the Shore?

Having just arrived less than a year ago during the pandemic, we are eager to explore and meet folks from all twists, turns and necks of the Shore.

What is your favorite summertime activity?

We are an outdoors family and Whitney is a director of a girls' summer camp in Maine. She will be in the out-of-doors and I will visit throughout the summer and we will enjoy time on the water and in the mountains of Maine. We look forward too, to having summer days on the Shore. Even before we bought our house, folks from the shore were encouraging us to buy a boat ASAP. We are water people, and I thought it best to buy our house first... the boat will come in the future and we will enjoy some summertime exploring by water.