31 Years at Nichols - Nichols School

ard C. Bryan
With the increasingly rigorous and dynamic demands of tomorrow
as a driving force, Rick oversaw curriculum transformations to
develop the School’s 21st century core competencies beginning
in 2005. Imagining what a Nichols education in 2020 would
require, faculty conducted research and engaged in stimulating
conversations on a continual basis in order to craft the thoughtful
results. These ultimately led to exciting curricular innovations
and programmatic advancements, including the addition of new
courses, such as Chinese, Engineering and Computer Programming.
The competencies focused on three main areas of a student’s
development: in the classroom, as part of a community and
individually. Rick has also spearheaded school-wide initiatives in
environmental sustainability, known as the Big Green Initiative;
taken global education to new heights with the expansion of the
School’s international exchange programs, including the most recent
addition of the Chinese exchange in Wuhan; and reawakened
a dedication to take multicultural awareness from theory to
practice, straying from terms such as tolerance and acceptance, and
focusing instead on inclusivity. Furthermore, his commitment to
environmental initiatives led to the green roof of Center ’63 being
named for him. Rick reveled in chances to bring the entire student
body together in one room, with the Flickinger Performing Arts
Center offering the space to enjoy school-wide gatherings, such as
the annual Earth Day special assembly.
Rick’s presence was undoubtedly felt in every area of Nichols.
From calling the football games to being in the stands of basketball
games, he was a regular cheerer for the Big Green. Last fall, the
School dedicated The Bryan Booth in his honor. Remarkably, Rick
was as much a champion for the arts as he was a lover of athletics.
In the Flickinger Performing Arts Center, Rick could be found in
one of the seats nearest to the front row, watching plays, listening
to musicians and vocalists impress the audience, and delighting in
Super Bowl Champions:
Dallas Cowboys
World Series Champions:
None, player strike!
Stanley Cup Winner:
New York Rangers
NBA Champions:
Houston Rockets
World Cup Winner: Brazil
Time Magazine’s Man
of the Year: Pope John Paul II
Top Movies of the year:
“Forrest Gump,” “The Shawshank
Redemption,” “Pulp Fiction,”
“The Lion King” and “Dumb
and Dumber”
Spring/Summer 2013
31