By SGN | 7 Nov 2025
Tom Boasberg never set out to be an educator.
As a boy, he dreamt of becoming a civil rights lawyer. He earned a law degree from Stanford Law School, but the courtroom was never where his story unfolded. His path shifted in Hong Kong, where he spent time teaching English at a low-income junior high school.
Years later, a call from his childhood friend Michael Bennet changed everything. Michael, then superintendent of Denver Public Schools and now a US senator, persuaded Tom to leave a successful career in the private sector to help transform the city’s education system.
Today, Tom leads Singapore American School (SAS), a non-profit independent education institution with students from over 70 countries.
Teaching in Hong Kong right after a law degree
Tom graduated from Stanford Law School, but he never once stepped inside a courtroom. Before he could, one unexpected trip to Hong Kong changed everything.
“At the time, some college friends were teaching in China and invited me to visit,” he recalls. “It was when China was just beginning to open up, the pace of change was incredible, and I was curious to see it for myself.”
Their journey ended in Hong Kong in mid-August. Tom was meant to fly home to the United States, but the city’s energy and vibrancy stopped him in his tracks. He decided to stay.
“I found a job teaching English at a school serving students from low-income families,” he says with a smile. “I still remember calling my parents to say, ‘Hey Mum, Dad, I’m not coming home just yet. Could you send me some warm-weather clothes for Hong Kong?’”
That decision shaped the course of his life. Tom often looks back on those early teaching days as some of the most formative in his career. They taught him the power of curiosity, the importance of adaptability, and how deeply a dedicated teacher can impact young lives.
“I was struck by the aspirations of Hong Kong’s younger generation, children whose refugee parents could never have imagined such opportunities,” he reflects. “And through Hong Kong’s semi-professional basketball league, I made lifelong friends and connected across a shared love of the game.”
Beyond the classroom, Tom found a different way to use his law degree. He became chief of staff to the chairman of what was then Hong Kong’s largest political party, an experience that deepened his understanding of leadership, policy, and community building.
In the years leading up to Hong Kong’s 1997 handover, Tom worked with local leaders on drafting the city’s election law, helping to shape its first legislative elections, and contributing to the creation of Hong Kong’s Bill of Rights. The experience deepened his belief in civic responsibility and collective progress.
An opportunity to lead Denver’s public schools
After four years teaching and working in Hong Kong, Tom continued his career in telecommunications in Denver, Colorado. Then in 2007, out of the blue, he received a call from Michael Bennet, an old friend who was then superintendent of Denver Public Schools.
“With my young kids aged two, four and six, I was thinking more and more about the world they were growing up in and how I could make a positive impact,” Tom recalls. “Michael asked if I would be interested in using my business and public policy background to serve as the school district’s chief operating officer.”
The invitation struck a chord. It echoed a belief Tom had carried since his youth, the same one that once made him want to become a civil rights lawyer.
“I grew up in a newly integrated neighbourhood and attended an integrated private school,” he explains. “There I learned the importance of not judging or undervaluing people because of who they are or the colour of their skin, but ensuring everyone has the respect and opportunities they deserve.”
As he grew older, that conviction deepened. He realised that while the law plays a vital role in advancing equity and opportunity, schools have an even greater power to shape the future.
That belief led Tom to accept Michael’s offer, stepping into what would become one of the most defining chapters of his career.
How Tom revitalised Denver’s public schools
At the time, Denver faced significant challenges. It was the lowest-performing large school district in Colorado, and the need for change was urgent.
In 2009, Tom stepped in to take over as Superintendent from Michael Bennet, who was leaving to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat.
Tom brought to the role years of experience as chief operating officer, where he had overseen essential yet often overlooked areas such as food services, human resources and transportation. From the moment he stepped into the position, his ambitions were clear.
“The challenge is not to rechart our course, but to accelerate our work so we can reach our goal of becoming the best urban district in the nation,” he said at the time.
That vision would guide him through a decade leading Denver Public Schools, one of the largest districts in the United States, serving nearly 100,000 students.
During Tom’s tenure, Denver Public Schools experienced a significant transformation. Graduation rates increased by 28 percentage points, the number of students of colour graduating and progressing to university more than doubled, and the dropout rate was halved.
“For me, it was never just about the numbers,” Tom says. “It was about meeting students where they were and giving teachers the support and freedom to do their best work.”
People were always at the heart of his approach. Tom focused on attracting, mentoring, and empowering educators, helping them thrive in roles where they could make the greatest impact.
One initiative he remains especially proud of enabled exceptional teachers to divide their time between teaching and coaching their peers. “This approach helps other teachers grow while keeping our best educators in the classroom,” he explains.
He also reimagined what schools could be. Over ten years, he closed 40 underperforming schools and opened more than 80 new ones, including 15 “multiple pathways” high schools designed to support students who were at risk of dropping out or returning to education later. At the same time, existing schools were strengthened to better meet a wider range of needs.
Under his leadership, Denver launched the country’s largest teacher leadership programme and became a model for collaboration between district and charter schools. The district’s success was even studied at Harvard Business School.
During Tom’s time, Denver became the fastest growing urban school district in the United States, with enrolment climbing by more than 25 per cent. The number of students attending private schools in the city was cut in half.
“We wanted to make sure every child, no matter where they came from, had the chance to succeed,” he reflects. “Every student can achieve at high levels when given the right support.”
Taking a sabbatical in Argentina
After years of leading Denver Public Schools through one of its most transformative periods, Tom finally fulfilled a long-held dream in 2016.
“I took an unpaid sabbatical to live abroad for six months with my family. It was something my wife and I had promised ourselves twenty years ago, a chance to have the chance to live overseas with our children,” he explains.
They chose Argentina deliberately. “We wanted to live in a Spanish-speaking country. In Denver Public Schools, over 30,000 students speak Spanish as their first language. I wanted to learn Spanish so I could speak directly with them and their parents.”
Beyond language, lifestyle played a part. “We also wanted a place with great access to the outdoors. Mendoza sits at the foot of the Andes and offers wonderful opportunities for hiking, biking and all the outdoor activities we love to do in Colorado.”
The experience proved to be far more than just a break. It gave Tom a deeper understanding of what it feels like to be the new student, a perspective his own children lived firsthand.
“For my kids, joining a class where they were the only non-native speakers of Spanish was eye‑opening,” Tom reflects. “They learned how much acceptance matters and how both small and larger gestures shape the classroom experience.”
For Tom, this insight went beyond parenting. “Living through it with my family deepened my empathy as an educator. It reinforced that school is not just about curriculum and outcomes but about belonging, trust, and making every student feel seen.”
Returning to Asia with a new role in Singapore
After his sabbatical in Argentina, Tom returned to Denver, only to soon embark on a new chapter. In 2018, he accepted the role of superintendent at Singapore American School.
“For me, it is both a professional milestone and a personal homecoming,” he says. “It is a return to Asia, where my journey in education first began.”
Tom fondly recalls his early years teaching English in Hong Kong. “I loved Hong Kong’s energy and vibrancy,” he reflects. It was also in Asia, while they were both studying Chinese in Taiwan, that he and his wife, Carin, met. That personal connection made the move even more meaningful.
“This gave us the chance as a family to return to Asia,” he says. “It was something the kids, Carin and I had been looking forward to for a long time.”
Founded in 1956, Singapore American School is one of the world’s largest international schools. It now educates over 4,000 students across 70 different nationalities from preschool through grade 12.
Leading SAS is a different challenge from his work in Denver. Yet Tom sees an opportunity to apply lessons from his decade leading one of America’s largest urban school districts. His experience in driving systemic change, fostering inclusive environments, and empowering teachers is now shaping his approach in Singapore.
“I came to SAS with a clear sense that what matters most is the both-and of academic excellence and creating a community where every student feels seen, supported, and challenged to grow,” he says.
Leading with purpose at Singapore American School
For Tom, the heart of leadership is simple: to support students well, you first need to support the people who teach them.
“In Denver, I learned change does not come from the top down,” he says. “It happens when teachers feel trusted and empowered. That lesson shapes everything I do here.”
At SAS, he has introduced teacher-led workshops that allow educators to share ideas and learn from one another. He has also expanded wellbeing programmes, from mindfulness sessions to student-run clubs, guided by his belief that students learn best when they feel safe, supported and valued.
Teacher development has long been one of Tom’s top priorities. Building on his experience in Denver, he has expanded coaching and leadership opportunities to help teachers hone their skills. “Investing in teachers is investing in students,” he says.
For Tom, education has never been just about exams. “It’s about curiosity, creativity and resilience, giving students the confidence to face whatever comes next.” He recalls a recent classroom visit where a nervous student presented her own project, her pride shining through as she finished. “That moment reminded me why I do this work,” he says.
At SAS, those moments happen every day. “My goal is to create a school where both students and teachers can grow, thrive and lead,” Tom says with a smile.
Tom’s reflections on learning and education
For Tom, the heart of education is the same wherever you go. His experiences in Hong Kong, Denver, and now Singapore have shown him that the differences between education systems matter less than the shared human experience at their core.
“We always need both to respect people’s unique cultures and also remember that at the end of the day, kids are kids,” he says. “Wherever they are, they often share the same hopes, face similar challenges, and look for the same things: a sense of belonging, purpose, and the chance to grow.”
While school systems differ in structure and assessment, Tom believes the essence of great education remains constant. “It comes down to building strong relationships, inspiring curiosity, and helping students discover who they are and what they can offer the world.”
Looking ahead, Tom hopes the next generation will lead with courage and compassion. “They have the power to shape a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable future,” he says. “I want them to embrace challenges as opportunities to grow, with confidence, curiosity and resilience.”
For Tom, the greatest gift education can offer is connection. “My hope is that young people will build bridges, learn from each other, and use their knowledge and compassion to make a difference. That is the true legacy of education.”
About Tom
Tom Boasberg is Superintendent of Singapore American School, focusing on student wellness and teacher leadership. Formerly Denver’s superintendent, he led major improvements in graduation rates and innovation. A Yale and Stanford graduate, Tom began his career teaching in Hong Kong.
Connect with him here.
