“Be kind, be curious, work hard”: that’s the personal mantra that KASSON BRATTON says he’ll bring to the headship at Hong Kong Academy. Kasson is an American expat in Hong Kong, who has moved here after 10 years in leadership roles at Nanjing International School. We find out more about his background in education and his plans as the new HKA Head of School.
Tell us about your background in education.
After graduating with a history degree, I did a year of AmeriCorps – it’s a bit like the Peace Corps in the US. I volunteered in a community in rural Oregon with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation, working with students who were at a high risk of dropping out of school or not being able to finish their education in a meaningful way. That was my first role in a school setting, and I got hooked! So I went back and did a master’s degree in education.
I met my wife in Oregon too – she’s from Indiana and I’m from Virginia, but she was also volunteering with AmeriCorps. On our very first date, she brought up the idea of teaching abroad. It was already on my radar because I had extended family members who’d done it before. So we started talking about it. And we ended up getting married and moving to Haiti to teach! From there, we went to Aberdeen, Scotland, where we worked at an international school.
I started to become more interested in leadership, so I did a postgraduate degree in education leadership, and around that time we adopted our son, Harris. He’s named after the Isle of Harris in Scotland.
Next came a middle leadership role at the American School of Doha – from the lush green highlands to the desert. And then a middle school principal role came up in Nanjing. We were there for 10 years – four years in my initial role, then a deputy head role for the last six years. Harris started there in pre-K and now he’s moving into Grade 8 at HKA.
That’s been the journey!
Will this be your first time living in Hong Kong?
Yes, though obviously working in mainland China you come through Hong Kong quite a bit; and also Hong Kong Academy and Nanjing International School are in the same regional organisation, ACAMIS, so we play each other in sport all the time. So I knew about the school, and I knew the outgoing HKA headmaster Stephen Dare professionally for 10 years and various people in the HKA community as well.
What attracted you to the role at HKA?
The school is intentionally small, and it’s intentionally focused on the idea of having belonging and inclusion at the heart of learning. And that’s how children learn best. It’s a belief HKA has held since the very first day and still holds now. I liked that a lot, plus the fact that it’s a non profit through-school with an IB continuum. There’s also a fantastic board who work out of the kindness of their heart to provide expertise and strong leadership. The school also fits the bill perfectly for the kind of education that my wife and I wanted for our son. So I’m extremely fortunate.
What did you learn about the school from the interview process?
It was a lengthy and rigorous process, as it should be, but it also felt mission-aligned and very intentional – you could tell it wasn’t simply driven by CVs. All the candidates were here at the same time so we got to connect with the school community, and they got to see the three candidates and make a decision that they felt was aligned with the vision and mission of the school.
How have you been involved in the transition process over the past year?
Nanjing is only a two-hour flight from Hong Kong, so I was able to make four visits after getting offered the job, to work with the board to develop strategic priorities, to do a weeklong leadership course with the entire leadership team offsite, and to meet members and leaders of the parent-teacher community organisation several times.
Your whole family will also be involved at HKA from the start of the new school year. Tell us a bit about that.
Yes, my wife will be teaching here, so it’s really a family affair. And that’s important to us. It’s nice to be able to share experiences in a community, and we’ll benefit from all the connections that Harris makes, and get to know the parents of those kids.
What kind of approach will you bring to the role of HKA Head of School?
A balance of continuity and opportunity. There are so many good things going on at HKA – countless people have worked thousands of hours to put the school in the position it’s in, and I want to keep that going. I have immense respect for Stephen Dare and the legacy he’s built here with everybody else. He has really thoughtfully transitioned me into the role and also allowed me to make it my own, while still being here to support me. That continuity is really important.
Then there is also the opportunity of coming in with a new perspective and fresh eyes, to see if any changes or improvements can be made. I’ve developed a kind of personal mantra for the role: be kind, be curious, work hard.
What’s coming up for the school this year and beyond?
So much! Over the summer, our teams have worked hard to continue to put HKA on a growth trajectory. A lot of Hong Kong schools are experiencing growth and we are too; and it’s an exciting position to be in, coming in as a new HKA Head of School. There are a few exciting campus capital projects going on. The biggest is what we’re calling our “Playscape” – we’re looking forward to the students experiencing that in the coming months.
We’re also hosting some high-profile athletic events this year. For example, we’re hosting an ACAMIS volleyball tournament, with schools from Beijing, Nanjing, Shekou, Tianjin and Macau.
Then next year will be our 25th year for HKA. I’m fresh from a 30th celebration at the school in Nanjing so I know first hand the energy an anniversary can bring to the community. Sometimes we get caught in the day to day. Zooming out and looking at things in a bigger picture can be exhilarating and gratifying.
What’s your favourite time in a school day?
Great question. For primary school, my favourite is the morning – that first hour where students are excitedly running into school and teachers are deliberately creating community with the opening circle, allowing those moments of connection. For secondary students, I would say it’s the afternoon. They’re so energetic and happy with each other in that last hour or so before heading off for the day.
As an American expat living in Hong Kong for the first time, what are you looking forward to doing outside of work?
Well, I’m a cyclist, and I’ve already been out on the bike this week, so I’m looking forward to expanding my hill-climbing repertoire. (Nanjing is quite flat!) My wife’s a big trail runner, so she’s in heaven – though the heat is challenging.
As a whole, the family is excited about exploring Hong Kong’s hidden gems. There’s a real mix of tradition and innovation here that can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world. It’s palpable. And just from a geographic perspective, Hong Kong is so naturally beautiful, with the green mountains meeting the sea. Even the drive from the airport to Sai Kung is honestly one of the most beautiful drives. So we’re looking forward to learning more about the city and getting to know it.
Hong Kong Academy is at 33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, New Territories.
2655 1111 | hkacademy.edu.hk
This article about an American expat in Hong Kong and HKA Headmaster appeared in the Autumn 2024 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
Enjoyed reading about the HKA headmaster’s background in education? See more profiles on principals and teaching staff in our Kids’ section.
