Mr. Liam Sullivan

I first heard about Liam Sullivan several years before he arrived at Brentwood from an old friend and colleague (and former student and latterly rugby teammate) who, at the time, was working with Liam at Collingwood School. Liam was a social studies teacher and a basketball coach. My friend said this: "Liam Sullivan is a character guy - hard-working, an excellent teacher, great values and a good, no-nonsense basketball coach. He would be an excellent boarding school teacher." Little did I know at the time that this information would prove to be instrumental in Liam joining Brentwood. Fast forward to March of 2007. I was part of a hiring committee to find a social studies teacher to join Brentwood. One of the applicants for that position was Liam Sullivan. As is the case when the school goes through a hiring process, there can be significant debate about the strengths of the candidates. One of the most important responsibilities we have as a School is to hire people who embrace the value of working in a dynamic and exceptionally demanding environment. Everything we do as a staff is aimed at elevating the experiences our students have while in our care. Needless to say, Liam was successful and was hired from a strong pool of applicants, joining the staff as a teacher, basketball coach and Assistant Houseparent of Whittall in the fall of 2007. Collingwood's loss was definitely Brentwood's gain. Like any teacher new to Brentwood, the learning curve for Liam was steep. His approach to Brentwood was rooted in his willingness to listen, learn and adapt and it was clear that he possessed the attributes so valued in our School. It was no surprise that Liam applied for the Ellis Houseparent position when if came available, but perhaps somewhat surprising to those looking from the outside was his success in gaining this appointment, out of a pool of very strong applicants. He had been a member of the Brentwood staff for only two years. Ultimately, it was Liam's strength of character and his proven ability to connect with students in a wide range of school life areas which was a key deciding factor in his appointment. Being in charge of 54 students within the boarding house setting is likely the most demanding role at Brentwood. Anyone who has been a parent will know that managing one's own family can have significant challenges. Imagine doing so with 50 plus exuberant, curious, limit-testing teenagers! It is not a surprise that many in the current team of senior leaders (Mr Patel, Mr Felix, Mr Johnston, Ms Murtland, Mr McCarthy & Mr Gage) have Houseparenting experience in their backgrounds. If a person can effectively manage a boarding residence, that person has demonstrated an ability to lead. Liam was the Houseparent of Ellis for 8 years. Like any Houseparent, he was tested, pushed, challenged, and he had to learn. A great deal of self reflection when one is a Houseparent is critical. In addition, there is no substitute for understanding the need to spend time and make a significant effort to convey that he or she genuinely cares about the students in their care. Liam's attitude was based on what was best for the students he was responsible for, and, as a result, he developed into an outstanding mentor for them and the staff in Ellis. Liam's mentorship of current Ellis Houseparent Mark Wismer is a testament to his leadership skills. When Mrs Felix and I decided it was time to move closer to our own children and grandchildren in Ottawa, the School began the process of finding the person to fill the Deputy Head's role. Gratefully, I was not involved in the selection process, but I was aware that the applicant pool was a deep one, with both excellent internal and many external applicants submitting their CVs. As is Brentwood's way, the process was thorough and complete. Needless to say, I was absolutely delighted to hear the news that Liam was the successful candidate. He has the strength of character, levelheadedness, empathy, and determination to help the School continue to evolve. I have witnessed what my old friend told me years ago: "Liam Sullivan is a character guy - hard-working, an excellent teacher, great values and a good, no-nonsense basketball coach. He would be an excellent boarding school teacher." He now has the mandate to be an excellent Deputy Head. There is no doubt in my mind he will be highly successful. Marius Felix - Deputy Head - until June 30, 2018!