Meet the Principal: Kenwood School’s Bob Bales

Kenwood School Superintendent/Principal Bob Bales will be leaving at the end of the current school year, after 23 years in the role. The year 2021 marks his 38th year as an educator in California.

Prior to arriving in Kenwood in 1998, Bales previously taught fifth and sixth grade for nine years and served as principal of a school near Modesto and then the Bacich School in Kentfield.

Bales said that the past year has been, “without a doubt,” the most challenging he has experienced in his nearly four decades of working in public schools.

“Although our teachers in Kenwood have done a phenomenal job of creating a distance-learning platform that works for our students, it can't emulate the experience of being in the classroom on a daily basis,” he said.

Bales believes that the toughest aspect of remote learning is the challenge of keeping students engaged and motivated without the structure of a "live" classroom environment.

“The personal communication and interactions are not the same in a distance-learning format,” he said. “The collaboration that exists on a daily basis and the spark of discussions is delayed and lacks some of the spontaneity in the remote format.” Most critically missing is the live, face-to-face student-teacher interaction.

The only silver lining for Bales has been the evidence of the resilience of his students and their ability to make the best of what continues to be a very challenging time for all. In addition, he has been pleased by the progress made in students' technology skills, as they have met the demands of this type of learning platform.

Bales said the year has been challenging for his entire staff, and for himself, as they have strived to meet the needs of students who have struggled with distance learning.

"The concern over the social and emotional aspects of missing in-class instruction is one that is always foremost in our minds,“ he said, noting that Kenwood School teachers have ”continued to do their best“ and are working very hard to bring a sense of community to the their classrooms during distance learning.

Looking back over his time at Kenwood, Bales said he is proud of the overall excellence of the school program and “its unique experience of personal, child-centered focus that we have built for our children.”

He is proud of and thankful for the community support that the school has enjoyed during his tenure.

"The Kenwood community, which includes Oakmont and stretches into Sonoma, has been a major reason for the success of our school and the programs and experiences that we have been able to provide for our students,“ he said.

Bales expects that the next superintendent/principal will continue to build on his hard work.

“I know that whoever follows me in this position will inherit a tremendously talented and dedicated group of people who are committed to providing the very best educational program for all of our students,” he said, adding that he will continue to support the school and the community in the years to come.

After 38 years in education, Bales is looking to start a new chapter in his life.

“I look forward to finding my next passion and pursuing it with the same excitement and vigor that I have been fortunate to enjoy in my career working with children,” he said.