Heads and Tales: Inside Alex Curtis's Journey to Choate

The big idea: Alex Curtis says becoming a boarder changed his life, and the belief that high expectations and real care go together still guides how he leads Choate.

Why it matters: After more than 15 years as Head of School, Dr. Curtis has seen independent school life as a student, teacher, parent, and leader. In a recent conversation, he explained how that experience informs his views on rigor, joy, and philanthropy.

Dr. Curtis was once in the position of many students walking around campus today. Raised in Windsor, Berkshire, he attended St. Paul's School in London, still finding his path. He recently sat down with Henry Faber, host of Heads and Tales, to talk about that time, his route to headship, and how British and American education compare.

Boarding Was the Turning Point

Dr. Curtis started at St. Paul's as a day student commuting from Windsor, then became a boarder. He now sees that shift as the defining moment of his time there.

"Boarding is what changed my life. I would become a boarder much sooner... hang in there; it'll be okay."

A Career That Moved Between Classrooms and Admissions

After earning a bachelor's degree from Swarthmore and a PhD in architectural history from Princeton, Dr. Curtis alternated between teaching and admissions work until a mentor encouraged him toward leadership. He spent seven years as Head of School at Morristown-Beard, then came to Choate in 2011.

"You get a call from a headhunter at a place like Choate. You can't really skip that."

He described the move as "like coming home."

Without National Exams, Room To Innovate

Comparing his U.K. schooling in the 1980s with U.S. independent schools today, Dr. Curtis pointed to the absence of national exams like GCSEs and A-levels. That freedom, he said, lets schools like Choate be more creative.

"We are not set on teaching for the test here."

Rigor and Joy Can Coexist

Both systems share high expectations, Curtis said, and those standards don't have to come at the expense of student well-being.

"We can reject the idea that rigor and overcoming adversity are necessarily not fun and bad things. You can bring joy to even the most challenging things."

Fundraising as Partnership

That same pairing of high expectations and support shapes how Curtis approaches philanthropy. He doesn't ask for "handouts." He invites alumni, parents, and friends to join a shared mission and shows how their generosity can expand access and change students' lives.

"You're not asking them to give you a gift individually. You're asking them to partner with you on an exciting opportunity that will change lives."

The bottom line: Shaped by his own journey, Curtis leads Choate with a clear sense of how rigor, care, and shared purpose can transform lives.