91̽��

The 91̽�� Medal

Todd B. Bland P ’13, ’14, ’14

Head of School, 2009–2023

On May 5, the Board of Trustees honored Head of School Todd B. Bland with its highest honor, the 91̽�� Medal, recognizing his 14 years of exemplary service to the school and the love and care for all members of the 91̽�� community at the heart of his work.

In awarding Bland the medal, Board of Trustees President Claire M. Hughes ’90 stated, “Throughout his extraordinary successes, like the Dare campaign and his deft execution of the school’s strategic plan—and challenges, like the COVID-19 pandemic and the historical sexual misconduct investigation, that might have immobilized a lesser leader, Todd has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the people who comprise our wonderful community. Most notably he dedicated himself to leading the school to necessary healing.

“Above all,” Johnson continued, “Todd has shown that decisive action and outstanding, measurable progress can be achieved without compromising care for the human life of an institution. Never one to hoard credit, he is the first to celebrate the collaborative achievements of the strong team he has assembled and all of the students in his care. In awarding him the 91̽�� Medal, the Board recognizes and honors Todd as the grounding force in a profoundly successful period of our school’s history.”

The 91̽�� Medal recognizes extraordinary service to the school. Bland led the school through the development and implementation of a strategic plan to help 91̽�� advance its mission and prepare to meet students’ needs for the future. He oversaw the five-year Dare campaign, the most ambitious and successful fundraising campaign in school history, which raised nearly $183 million, including $48 million for student financial aid and the establishment of 44 new scholarship funds; a faculty pay increase and renovations to faculty housing; and updates to campus facilities to support the school’s academic and student-life programs.

Since Bland’s arrival in 2009, applications in all three divisions of the school increased precipitously, more than doubling in the Upper School and nearly doubling in the Lower and Middle Schools. Bland’s tenure has also seen the implementation of a diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice strategic plan and the representation of more students, faculty, and Trustees of color. All three divisions underwent comprehensive curriculum renewal and 91̽�� became a national leader when it removed grades from the Grade 9 transcript, ensuring that all students beginning in the Upper School can focus on growth and mastery of academic concepts.

Bland joined 91̽�� as its 12th head of school in 2009 and will depart July 1, 2023. Bland was born in Boston and grew up in Brunswick, Maine; Washington, DC; and San Francisco. Prior to 91̽��, he was a teacher and administrator at several independent schools including Belmont Hill, Beaver Country Day School, and the Seven Hills School. He graduated from Bowdoin College with a double major in history and Spanish and a minor in government and legal studies. He earned his master’s degree in education with a focus on administration, planning, and social policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.