Fletcher Collins: In His Own Words

7/26/2024

The corner office just off the front hallway in Flippen Hall is clean and tidy now, a rarity, for sure, when Dr. Fletcher Collins was the tenant.

Collins, the longtime assistant head of the Middle School who retired June 30 after 50-plus years in education including the past 47 at Collegiate, always had a project going.

Sometimes he had two. Sometimes three. Sometimes more. All at once. And he always managed them with aplomb and excellence.

While stacks of files, books, several cabinets, his desk and chair, assorted tech devices, and a small conference table filled his space, there was order in what might have appeared to some to be clutter, and there was also, most definitely, joy in his bearing.

With his uncanny ability to pull together a million details, see the big picture with clarity, and think analytically and creatively, Collins was one of those folks who kept the trains running on schedule, a necessity in the no-two-days-are-alike-and-some-are-really-crazy Middle School world.

No job was too big or challenge too daunting. Simply put, Fletcher Collins always figured things out.

Collegiate’s longest tenured employee the past two years, Collins brought to his calling experience, wisdom, and insight in abundance, and beyond his job description, he served as a trusted confidant and voice of reason who had a calming effect on those who sought his counsel.

Humble, soft-spoken, and understated, he was a mentor to students and colleagues, the quintessential team player with a collaborative mindset, the ultimate “glue guy,” and a friend to all.

One recent afternoon, when he returned to campus to work with his successor Liz Haske, he shared some thoughts about his career of accomplishment and significance.

Why education in the first place?

I wanted to make a difference. I really enjoyed learning. I thought I was going to be a college teacher. Got a PhD in English (at the University of Wisconsin). Taught college for two or three years. It wasn’t as rewarding as I thought it would be. Then I had my own kids, and I realized I needed to teach younger people.

You got into education to teach. What got you interested in administration?

I started out as coordinator of the Lower School summer programs. I enjoyed coordinating programs. I enjoyed seeing other people enjoy doing what they were doing.

You came to the Middle School in 1986 as a curriculum coordinator and became assistant head in 1991. Over time, your job became more and more technology based. You didn’t grow up with technology. How did you figure it out?

My parents taught me to figure things out. I grew up in a theater family. I was involved in production of plays. I did lights and sound when I was 10 years old, so I guess I’ve aways had an interest in [projects involving technology]. Technology was also part of a revolution in learning, changing the model of the classroom into a more collaborative place. You could only do that if you had technology, and you couldn’t do it well unless kids had technology.

Many from your generation were initially scared of technology. What made you embrace it?

I’m a lifelong learner. I even worked for H&R Block for two years doing people’s tax returns. That was my coaching job in the winter when I wasn’t coaching tennis. That was rewarding in a totally different way.

Have you missed classroom teaching?

I have missed it because I like interacting with middle school-aged kids. I have worked with some of the programs here [like] technology classes and Envision Richmond, so I’ve actually gotten to know a lot of the kids. I also really like working with grown-ups.

So everything you’ve done is fun?

I don’t think I’ve ever had a really bad day. The first two weeks of the new Middle School in 1986 were pretty tough because there were so many changes and people who didn’t know each other. But I like every day. I don’t even mind dealing with difficult people.

Who were your mentors?

Cliff Miller when he was head of the Lower School (which is where Collins began his Collegiate career). He taught me about 4th graders. He helped me with classroom management. He had a great sense of humor, which really helped. After that, Bill Reeves (the first head of the Middle School). I worked with him for many years. His concern for the whole kid, values, character, and collaboration among grown-ups were really inspiring to me. Sally Chambers was the first guidance counselor in the Middle School. It was inspiring learning to understand the whole kid and their psychology and goals. They’re not just students. They’re people. She really helped me with that. And Charlie Blair (Reeves’s successor) for 34 years. What I learned from Charlie was the even keel and the duty we have to do things right and not go on hunches and also give kids a second chance. He was really inspiring.

You’re always calm under pressure. Deadlines and the frenetic pace of Middle School life never seemed to faze you.

I don’t really know where that came from, because I wasn’t that way in my 20s. Somewhere in 30s, I learned that. I’m not sure how. I think the biggest thing is prioritizing, not just your top choices, but things you want to put off. I think I got really good figuring out what battle I have to fight today and putting some others off until I was ready for them or until somebody else took care of them. Prioritizing is so important in this crazy world.

Since news of your retirement became public, you’ve received a lot of well-deserved praise even though you’ve always been happy to stay beneath the radar.

It’s very humbling to be embarrassed that many times in the last six weeks. Very humbling, oh my gosh. But it was all right. People were having fun. It’s OK.

You’ve always been willing to lend an ear and offer advice when people ask.

I’ve been around the track a lot of times. I’ve seen the same concerns come up year after year after year. I don’t get excited about them. Being a good listener is really important, and while you’re listening, you’re calming yourself down.

Have you had time to catch your breath and reflect on your career?

It’s mostly too early. One of the big a-ha moments was when I announced to the teachers that I was retiring. I thought they might compliment me on all the projects and innovations. No, that wasn’t what I got at all. It was “I enjoyed talking to you when I was upset about something.” That kind of thing. It was the personal stuff. That surprised me. I didn’t see that coming.

What will you miss the most?

The people. Oh, my gosh. Six hundred people a day in my life for 47 years. I’ll miss all that. And the humor around here. It’s pretty special.

~Weldon Bradshaw

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