Head of School Todd Bland P ’13 ’14 ’14 and Trustee Emeritus Brad Bloom P ’06 ’08 embarked on their journey together as Milton’s leaders in 2009. Brad was elected as president of the Board as Todd began his first year as head of school. The two shared aspirations of great progress for Milton Academy, and on Friday, May 5, the Board of Trustees awarded both Brad and Todd the Milton Medal, Milton’s highest honor, in recognition of their transformational service to the school.
The Milton Medal is an expression of the school’s deep gratitude to those who have contributed the most to our community. In recognizing Todd’s exemplary service as head of school, the Board noted that he has kept love and care for all members of the school community at the heart of his work. Throughout his extraordinary successes, like the Dare campaign and his deft execution of the school’s strategic plan—and challenges, like the COVID-19 pandemic, that might have immobilized a lesser leader, Todd has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the people who comprise our wonderful community. Above all, Todd has shown that decisive action and outstanding, measurable progress can be achieved without compromising care for the human life of an institution. Never one to hoard credit, he is the first to celebrate the collaborative achievements of the strong team he has assembled and all of the students in his care. In awarding him the Milton Medal, the Board recognized and honored Todd as the grounding force in a profoundly successful period of our school’s history.
“In awarding him the Milton Medal, the Board recognizes and honors Todd as the ‘true north’ in a profoundly successful period of our school’s history.”
—Claire Hughes Johnson ’90
President, Milton Academy Board of Trustees
For over 20 years, Brad devoted himself to advancing Milton’s tradition, mission, and capacity to lead. Brad began his Milton career as a parent volunteer for the Milton Fund. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2004, and his unflappable demeanor, optimism, and confidence led to his election as president of the Board. As president from 2009 to 2015, Brad was recognized as an architect of several critical institutional advances that propelled the Board and the school forward, most notably improving Board governance and securing Todd as our head of school. Brad led the Board through important work that emboldened the school’s mission, ensured productive governance, and helped to first stabilize and then bolster Milton’s financial position by leading the Dare campaign.
“Brad’s service to Milton Academy and the progress he achieved have evolved from ‘leadership’ to ‘legacy,’ resonating for our Board, our broader Milton community, and for students now and into the future.”
—Claire Hughes Johnson ’90
President, Milton Academy Board of Trustees
About the Milton Medal
The Milton Medal is Milton Academy’s highest honor and an expression of the school’s deep gratitude to those who have contributed the most to our community. Established in 1982, the Medal is bestowed by the Board of Trustees in recognition of extraordinary service and especially meritorious contributions to Milton Academy. Because of the high standard that must be met, the Medal is awarded solely at the Board’s discretion to a select few. Milton Medal recipients include people who have demonstrated exceptional volunteerism, dedication to teaching, a deep commitment to our mission, strong fundraising, extraordinary generosity, distinctive leadership, innovation, and truly uncommon devotion to the school.
