Meet Derek Boonisar, Headmaster.
Q: What drew you to Fenn twenty-three years ago?
A: I grew up in this area and knew of Fenn and its strong reputation. I also had a few good friends who went to Fenn and that helped me gain a better sense of the School when I was looking. I was teaching and coaching at a school in Connecticut and was looking for the opportunity to work in a day school in the Boston area.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
A: Easy to say and perhaps it’s a cliché, but for me it’s all about the people and the community. I work with a dedicated, positive faculty and administration, motivated and kind boys, and supportive and appreciative parents. Great people and a great community across the board! I try to make sure each experience is worthwhile and filled with good learning.
Q: What do you hope boys come away with after being in your school?
A: Self-belief, organization, pride in one’s work, respect for others, and valuable lessons learned not just about the curriculum but about life and what it means to be a boy growing into young manhood.
Q: What are your passions and interests outside of Fenn?
A: Mostly spending time with family and friends. We go to the Cape a lot in the summer and I love to be near the ocean. I try to stay active, playing golf and pick-up hockey. I like to read but don’t have a lot of time to free read during the school year. I play catch up over vacations and the summer. Liz and I have been married for fourteen years and have two children, Caroline (11) and Chris (9). Raising the kids is the greatest gift in the world: exciting, rewarding, humbling, and confusing, all at once.