Polytechnic School Head John Bracker Plans June 2028 Retirement

John Bracker plans to retire as head of Pasadena’s Polytechnic School on June 30, 2028, ending a tenure that began in 2014, the school said in an Oct. 13 announcement.

The planned departure gives the school’s trustees time to select a successor before the 2027-28 academic year begins, allowing a transition period before Bracker leaves.

Polytechnic said it has retained Carney, Sandoe & Associates to advise on the search, and the firm has listed the Pasadena position among its leadership openings.

Bracker and Board Chair Alec Hudnut informed the school community of the plan Monday, Oct. 12.

“Serving Poly has been an enormous privilege for me,” Bracker wrote. He said he was sharing the news now “not because the work feels finished, but because Poly is in a strong position to look ahead with confidence.”

Bracker became Poly’s tenth head on July 1, 2014, succeeding Deborah Reed. The trustees had selected him the previous year following a national search.

Founded in Pasadena in 1907, the independent school serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade on its East California Boulevard campus near Caltech.

Before coming to Pasadena, Bracker spent 14 years as head of Watkinson School in Hartford, Connecticut. Earlier, he worked for 13 years at Concord Academy in Massachusetts, where his positions included history teacher and director of admissions, according to Poly’s original appointment announcement. The school also credited his Watkinson tenure with new diploma programs in global studies and creative arts.

Bracker’s years at Poly encompassed the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2025 Eaton fire. In an account published after the fire, the school described temporarily closing amid unsafe conditions and organizing donations for affected families. Poly said the disaster struck near Altadena, where many members of its community lived.

In the retirement announcement, Polytechnic credited Bracker’s tenure with more than $102.8 million raised in philanthropic support, including $25.4 million for the endowment. Most of those endowment contributions were designated for financial aid, according to the school. Polytechnic said its endowment grew from $63.1 million to $144 million during his leadership.

Hudnut, the school’s board chair, credited Bracker with keeping the community central to his leadership.

“Through it all, John has prioritized our community, instilling a deep sense of equity and openness to all families,” Hudnut wrote in the school announcement.

The search will be led by a trustee committee chaired by Denise Nelson Nash, according to the school’s search website. Committee members will gather community input, develop a leadership profile, interview candidates and recommend a successor to the full Board of Trustees. A separate advisory committee will provide additional school-community perspectives, Polytechnic said in its release.

While the trustees conduct that search, Bracker will continue leading the school through the end of the 2027-28 academic year. The school is directing questions and feedback about the transition to headsearch@polytechnic.org.

Bracker described his satisfaction in watching students develop. “Seeing them grow into empathetic, bold, and curious people who care deeply about the world around them is the ultimate proof of what this community makes possible.”