Fostering Connection with Dean of Upper School Abraham Henderson
September 18, 2024
“¡Buenos días, mi gente [good morning, my people]!” said Upper School Dean of Students Abraham Henderson as he took the podium to begin a recent morning assembly. Mr. Henderson, who is entering his second year at Wheeler, told us that acknowledging his students and colleagues in Spanish has always been part of who he is. “It’s me showing up as my authentic self.”
Born and raised in Providence, Mr. Henderson is a proud first-generation Afro-Latino. Before coming to Wheeler, he worked as an educator, counselor, and administrator for 17 years, serving in the Peace Corps as an HIV/AIDS awareness advocate, as an officer and teacher in the juvenile and adult correctional system, and as an adjunct lecturer at Brown University. Outside of work, Mr. Henderson is a father of two boys, and you can often find him at their baseball and basketball practices and games. “Raising my children has been one of my proudest accomplishments,” he remarked.
Having now been at Wheeler for over a year, Mr. Henderson said he loves serving as the dean of students in Upper School–-even, and perhaps especially, because of the challenges that come with it. “The favorite part of my job is resolving conflict and creating spaces and programs where truth is heard and protected,” he shared. “It does involve a lot of patience and understanding, including the ability to investigate and resolve conflict promptly while juggling other administrative tasks and events simultaneously.” As someone who thrives in high-pressure situations, Mr. Henderson said he has learned throughout his career that as long as his decisions are student-centered, he will always make the right ones. “Children are brilliant beings, and they are both resilient and fragile at the same time, which is why I take great pride in building trusted relationships with them and creating safe spaces for those I serve.”
Mr. Henderson described his first year at Wheeler as a whirlwind. “Although I have had experiences serving as a dean at other upper schools, there was certainly a learning curve when adapting to the new environment,” he shared. “I was a pupil last year, observing, asking questions, collecting as much information as possible, and piloting a few ideas along the way.” He then credited his “dream team” for assisting with his transition at Wheeler. “I was fortunate to have Ms. [Neeltje] Henneman as a mentor and guide, and the support of my team that includes Ms. [Lynne] Bell, Mr. [Josh] Cabrera, Ms. [Pam] Levanos, Ms. [Donna] Lizotte, Ms. [Annie] Funnell, Ms. [Sarah] Berthiaume LeDuc, and Ms. [Princess] Bomba!” Mr. Henderson also expressed his gratitude to the Upper School students and their families for accepting and embracing him into the Wheeler community.
As he looks ahead to the 2024-2025 school year, the Upper School dean sees tremendous opportunities for growth. “This year, I expect the Upper School community to dig deeper into our connections with one another by establishing programs, systems, and spaces that encourage ways to have safe and healthy conversations around issues that might challenge us as individuals and as community members,” he shared. “Essentially, I hope that we can accentuate Wheeler’s mission by developing students who are willing and able to ‘be answerable to their powers and their uses’ and are versed in the ability to have courageous conversations.”
When we asked Mr. Henderson about any of his own recent acts of courage, he told us about a painting project he started during the summer break. “I challenged myself by being more intentional in my creative process and started a new series of paintings around Afro-Latin music. On an intellectual and spiritual level, I have found a great deal of joy in doing the research for this project as much as engaging in its creative process!”
Whether he’s creating artwork or fostering courageous conversations and community connections, we’re excited for what’s ahead for Mr. Henderson in his work with our Upper School students!
