Throughout the week of April 19, former Head of School Kai Bynum returned to Lakeside’s campus for multiple highly anticipated events: a Middle School community meeting and employee event on April 22, the Vassar Center opening on April 23, and finally, the tailgate on April 24.
It’s been a long time since the Lakeside community has seen Dr. Bynum, and the impact of this is evident. For many Lakeside students, Dr. Bynum’s withdrawal isn’t simply noticeable; his leaving is tangible and felt in the absence of small day-to-day interactions.
“He is so energized by being around students,” says Amanda Darling, head of the communications department. This is what sets him apart: the reliability of being a “friendly and familiar face,” she adds. “I’ve never talked much with him,” notes junior Star R. ’27, “but even then, I’ve noticed his absence.” She continued to describe how his “presence is both strong and friendly,” and a presence that “all of us Lakeside students will miss.”
Subtle memories — a welcoming smile in the hallways of Bliss or a friendly conversation in Red Square — connect Dr. Bynum to the Lakeside community. They make his return meaningful, a moment for the community to not only say goodbye but also to acknowledge Dr. Bynum’s legacy.
Dr. Bynum was an incredible leader, determined advocate, and above all, a team player. When Assistant Head of School Jamie Asaka first met him during the recruitment process, she was immediately struck by his leadership style and plans. He was “so team-oriented, like a head coach encouraging his team.” From the beginning of his journey at Lakeside, he was respectful and incredibly helpful to the school. Ms. Asaka believes that “he wanted to continue furthering the amazing work and change at Lakeside … and further execute Bernie Noe’s vision while also building on with his own.” Upper School Director Ryan Boccuzzi reflected that “Dr. Bynum [would always] think about what is best for students and how to make sure they were experiencing joy regularly at school.” He truly wanted to help the school grow and succeed, but, more importantly, he wanted the students to be happy and curious in a safe and nurturing environment.
Ms. Darling described similar qualities when recalling a memory she had of working with him. “I was the co-chair of the strategic plan steering committee,” she explains, “so I did a lot of work on the strategic plan, and being able to work with Dr. Bynum on that was really special.” While much of the project was logistical, what she remembers is being able to “brainstorm with [Dr. Bynum], and particularly around the vision of the strategic plan.” He is not only a planner, but a “visionary, a fun and creative person.” That’s what Ms. Darling says she’ll miss the most: “having those experiences with him.”
Some particular visions Dr. Bynum had were his implementation of a nursing system and staff, the beautiful T.J. Vassar Center, and a safer security team and system. Nurse Joy was a crucial hire for Lakeside under Dr. Bynum’s supervision, providing organization to medical histories, places to rest when ill, a more direct channel to go through for medical situations, and overall a safe and welcoming environment. Another addition to the Lakeside staff was Mr. Burger. He is our wonderful head of security, both holistically and in-person keeping our campus and students safe. He corroborates with other schools, works with the rest of the security staff, and helps implement the automatic locks on many of the campus buildings. These changes are crucial for the safety of our community, and are greatly thanks to Dr. Bynum. Finally, the Vassar Center is a state-of-the-art facility with pristine labs, collaborative workspace, and a full-stocked cafe. But more than that, it’s a place to foster community. Dr. Bynum helped oversee this vision and advocated for the namesake. Ms. Asaka said that Dr. Bynum was inspired by TJ Vassar and thought it was important for such a wonderful space to be named in his honor. Dr. Bynum worked tirelessly with the staff and admin of Lakeside. “He always had the students’ best interests at heart,” Ms. Asaka explained about the changes he made. He was dedicated to bettering our learning environment and experience, and future generations of Lakesiders will have him to thank for these positive changes.
The Tailgate is “one piece of a bigger picture,” explains Ms. Darling. While there are designated moments of gratitude for the staff, such as the employee meeting and a coordinated book basket gift, “the tailgate is the one that is really for families and upper school students.” When asked why the faculty chose the tailgate to honor Dr. Bynum, Ms. Darling describes the nature of the event. Amidst the busy lives of students and families, the tailgate is already a breather, an event that connects and ties together an ever-changing and active community. “It [seemed] like a good spirit of celebration that we could build off of,” she says.
Additionally, the tailgate has both a sentimental and a full-circle quality. Nearly four years ago, when Dr. Bynum first joined the community, “we did the same thing,” says Ms. Darling. An athletic school event was used to introduce Dr. Bynum, not simply to hear his plans for the school, but to meet him, engage with him. This marked the start of a new chapter at Lakeside. Now, this tailgate mirrors that day, closing the Dr. Bynum chapter.
It’s easy for students to be naive to the monumental work admin do behind the scenes. “These changes don’t just appear out of nowhere,” Ms. Asaka noted about the aforementioned changes to our campus. Dr. Bynum worked tirelessly while at Lakeside to better the student experience. From his first moments on campus, “He was a perfect fit for the school, and the school was a fit for him”.
This is why appreciation is so important, and the communications department has developed another way to help show it. They’ve created a digital kudo board, which Ms. Darling describes as “a way for both students and staff to say thank you digitally.” The life of a Lakeside student is a committed one, highly achieving but also relentlessly busy. Because of this, subtle moments, the little gradations, can slip through the cracks unnoticed. Through this kudo board, students and staff can “send messages,” or “share a memory,” says Ms. Darling. We can show our appreciation for years of work behind the scenes.
