KENT DENVER SCHOOL

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Alex Ates Reflects on First Six Months

Alex Ates Reflects on First Six Months

The 2024-25 academic year is the school’s first with a dedicated Director of Arts, a new senior leadership position that was established to deeply integrate the arts into the life of the school and broader community, a key goal in Kent Denver’s Strategic Vision. 

Alex Ates in the ceramics theater

During his first semester at Kent Denver, Director of Arts Alex Ates has embraced this new role and focused on elevating the arts across campus. From adding new events—such an Arts Night for prospective students and a new “5 Minute Max” performance showcase—to heightening awareness of the impact of creativity and the arts on student development, Mr. Ates is putting the spotlight on the people and programs that make Arts at Kent Denver so special.

Perspective recently sat down with Mr. Ates and asked him to reflect on his first few months at the school.

When you look back over the last six months, what do you think has been the biggest change in the Arts at Kent Denver? 
Our department has been focused on refining the vibrancy and joy in the arts. I think oftentimes, when you're at a school like Kent Denver where expectations can feel very high, it's important to have a wide array of activities that make students feel a sense of flourishing and fill them with joy, pride and accomplishment. We've had so many arts events like that this year, where I can see students thriving, I can see them belonging, and I can see the vibrancy and the energy around what they're creating. 

And so whether that shows up in a main stage performance, like Clue or our winter music concerts, or in events like 5 Minute Max, which we launched this year to allow any student to sign up and show their work, you just sense that energy of creation, which is a joyful act of making something or being creative with your peers, with the tools you have, and with the encouragement of your teachers. This energy is fueling all of us in the Arts Department as we propel into the next semester. 

Now that you are fully immersed in the Kent Denver community, is there anything that has surprised or delighted you about the school? 
I knew Kent Denver students were interesting and impressive, so that wasn't a surprise. As I have started to get to know students and build those relationships, I've been blown away by their creativity, their ingenuity, and—my favorite quality—their kindness. The caring nature of the Kent Denver community really motivates me and makes me feel deeply grateful to be here. 

Looking ahead to the next 6-12 months, what are you most excited about? 
I continue to look forward to uplifting Kent Denver’s arts programming in every way. There's been a lot of good stuff going on, so my focus is on celebrating and amplifying what we have while helping move our arts programs to the next level. A lot of that comes down to sharing our story with the broader Denver community and letting families who have arts-focused students know that Kent Denver is a place for them. I also see my role as helping all families understand that the arts are a critical part of a Kent Denver education, because if you're going to have an extraordinary educational experience—whether it's in the science lab, an English class or on an athletic field—you need to be creative. So whether a student sees themself as an artist or not, being part of a creative culture is critical for their success and critical to our identity as an extraordinary school.
 

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