Alex Ates was so ready to start his new job that he showed up a week early. Never mind that school was closed for the Fourth of July holiday. He walked around Kent Denver’s campus in its rare state of quiet, exploring the spaces and places of his new home. The 200-acre stage looks empty now, but it doesn’t take a background in theatre to envision the scenes of laughter and creativity that will soon unfold. 

“Whenever I get some down time (this school year), I look forward to finding a classroom to slip into,” Mr. Ates shared in an interview with Kent Denver this July. “Watching colleagues do excellent work and seeing students engage whole-heartedly in the act of creating something truly extraordinary, that is something I’m really excited for.” 

The 2024-25 academic year will be the first in Kent Denver’s 102-year history with a dedicated Director of Arts, a new position created to further emphasize a key goal in the school's current Strategic Vision: to deeply integrate the arts into the life of the school and broader community. 

After an extensive national search this spring, Mr. Ates shined like the lead role in a Broadway musical. One could easily point to his impressive qualifications, demonstrated in his most recent position as the Director of PreK-12 Visual and Performing Arts at Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania—where he managed a multidisciplinary arts program and led a team of over 20 full and part-time team members and guest artists. But more important than that was his commitment to innovation and his drive to help take an already successful program to even greater heights. He was offered the job.

“It’s a rare thing to see an institution commit itself to an arts program like this,” said Mr. Ates, who has already had the chance to meet many art students who were on campus for Kent Denver’s summer camp program. “What is clear to me in getting to know the school is just how excellent this arts department already is. The teachers are phenomenal, the offerings are incredible and the facilities are top-notch. When all those ingredients come together, you can’t help but be really excited.”

Mr. Ates has an extensive background in theatre. He taught the subject in New Orleans at The Willow School and the NOLA Project and as a visiting artist and director at Emerson College, Agnes Scott College, Columbia University’s Teachers College and Tulane University. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies: Acting and Directing, a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre: Directing and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. But he’s eager to oversee the entirety of the school’s robust 6-12 arts program, from music and theatre to visual arts such as drawing and painting, ceramics, photography, film, graphic design and more.

“I hope to learn so much,” said Mr. Ates, who has already made a point to dive into the school’s culture and history. “The reason why the arts program is so vibrant here is because the faculty really care about the craft and the student process. Whether it’s in Corky Dean’s photo lab or Taylor Pringle’s theatre studio, they really care about guiding the students in their holistic development. 

“You get a great product through a great process. Soular Wave wouldn’t be an award-winning student band if it wasn’t for the great process of Mr. Adams. Paper Wings is phenomenal, and it wouldn’t be so excellent if it wasn’t for all the work of Mr. Fortmiller and our visual arts faculty. I’m reminded of our extraordinary educators every day.” 

Mr. Ates comes from a family of artists and educators. His dad was an elementary and high school principal. His mom teaches art and yoga. His sister is a graphic designer, and his brother has a degree in animation. His partner even works in education technology. If the right hemisphere of the brain is indeed associated with creativity and artistry, then it’s only right that Mr. Ates would go on to lead an arts program at an institution so focused on innovation. 

“You can’t have innovation without creativity. And the arts inspire creativity that lead to innovation,” said Mr. Ates. “The arts are very much at the heart of what Kent Denver wants to do. That’s not just in the arts classes. Creativity shows up in the science lab, on the football field and in service learning. 

“You have to have students see things that aren’t already there, collaborating and envisioning new ideas. It follows that you should have a robust arts program—centering our identity and making sure academics and arts are viewed hand-in-hand in an educational experience.” 

One of Mr. Ates’ many responsibilities in his new role will be to serve as a liaison to connect student artists with the professional art scene in Denver and beyond. He will also find new ways to introduce student art to parents, alumni and the greater community.  

“The only way the arts can flourish is with community,” said Mr. Ates. “I want everyone to feel welcome and like they can be engaged with our arts program, to lean in and enjoy it. Folks have an open invitation to stop by and say hello and see all the amazing work our students are doing.”

Alumni interested in meeting Mr. Ates in person will have a great opportunity to do so on Friday, September 13 during our 2024 Alumni Homecoming & Reunion Weekend. And you can bet that, like he did in his first week at Kent Denver, he will show up early!