Juan D’Brot: New Associate Director of the Center

Juan D’Brot becomes an associate director of the Center for Assessment on Sept. 18, after nine years as a senior associate. In the weeks before the transition, he sat down (virtually) with the Center’s editorial director, Catherine Gewertz, to talk about his plans and priorities. You can read or listen to their conversation below.

Juan! Congratulations on becoming co-associate director of the Center in a few weeks. What will you be focusing on in your new role?

I think in stepping into this new role, there are two core ideas that I’d like to address, two major priorities. One is internal. One is external. I think externally, I want to make sure that our work continues to shape systems and not just be about tools. What I think that means is helping our partners move beyond technical compliance, to think about things coherently, to think about fair systems of assessment, think about fair systems of accountability, and continue to do the work that the Center does so well, about connecting our partners’ actions with their values and priorities.

Secondly, I’d like to invest into our internal ecosystem. That is, I’d like to make sure that our team is supported, that our work is aligned and connected to the bigger picture of our own mission. That means more intentional collaboration. I think we have really shifted to a model of increased collaboration. But I’d like to help clarify roles more effectively and think about opportunities internally for shared leadership across the Center, beyond just the leadership team. So I’m particularly interested in process and systemization.

You’ve been with the center nine years now, worked with a lot of states, districts, education organizations. I’m wondering: what do you think you’re most known for, and how do you see elevating those characteristics as a Center leader?

I would say I’m most known for both what I do and how I do it. And I know that sounds like a little bit of a throwaway statement, but I’m known for bringing a systems lens to tough policy and technical conversations, and asking the kinds of questions that help people see the larger picture, and then identifying ways where everyone can jump in and figure out how to build the system that they’re looking for. So I try to bring a mix of strategic thinking, clarity and, to a degree, humility about what I know to help identify and bring to light what our partners already know.

I think in terms of how I do it, I try to do so in a way that prioritizes kindness, so to try to create a safe space where people may think that they, if they don’t know the answer, that they’re okay with not knowing the answer. It’s one of the reasons why I think I’m so excited about the change in the leadership structure at the Center from two to three, because the Center operates on a principle of complementary thinking. Everyone brings a unique perspective. I think we are stronger as a result of it, and I think it’s reflected in this transition to move from two to three people, we just get to bring different perspectives, priorities, experiences, and that’s exactly how I think we tend to work with our partners and how we want to continue moving forward.

What about your life outside the Center. What are you passionate about? What sort of guy are you?

Yeah, I think I’m a bit of a health nut. Outside of work, I love to exercise, be outdoors, hike, run, and generally be active with my wife and kids. We do family obstacle course racing, family hikes, family runs. That’s a good way to keep five kids busy and out of trouble.

That being said, I’m also a bit of a foodie. I love really good food and drink, so it’s also an exercise in forced balance. Outside of that, I’m also a big reader and a movie nerd, and while I love critical darlings, sometimes the cheesier the action movie the better.

I try to find small ways to make ordinary things better and kind of everything that I do, whether it’s trying to make a better breakfast sandwich or finding the right analogy to make a hard concept stick. I’m also really passionate about justice and respect, both in my family and in the work that I do. So I really want to try to be the kind of person my younger self would look up to.