Allie Thrall
Dean of Curriculum
B.A., Global Studies and Spanish Literature, Lehigh University
M.Ed., The University of Texas at Austin
Teaching Certification-Social Studies
Allie joined Kirby Hall School in 2019 as the Honors and AP History teacher, and is thrilled to continue to contribute to the school in her new role. As Dean of Curriculum, she aims to support the faculty in maintaining and developing rigorous and engaging coursework. Allie holds a B.A. in Global Studies and Spanish Literature from Lehigh University, and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin. Allie has broad experience in the field of education–from researching education practices in Santiago, Chile, to teaching fourth grade in Silicon Valley. Allie is committed to asking questions about what education can and should be, and applying those theories to pedagogical practice. Outside of school, Allie enjoys eating tacos and spending time with her family.
Dr. Bradley King
Dean of Middle and Upper Schools, Middle and Upper School Language Arts, Literature and AP Literature
B.A., English and History, Oklahoma Baptist University
M.A., English Literature, University of South Carolina
Ph.D., English Literature, The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. King came to Kirby Hall School after completing his Ph.D. in English at the University of Texas and teaching American literature and writing classes there for almost a decade. The reading, writing, and discussions in his classes are always aimed at helping students grow in confidence, awareness, and understanding. Born in Altus, OK and raised there on a small farm, Dr. King went to college at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he initially studied to become a minister, but switched to English and Philosophy after his Freshman year. He quickly developed an interest in how reading can lead us to cultivate richer, more reflective relationships with ourselves and the people and spaces around us. In graduate school, he studied the radical, visionary literature of Transcendentalism, Romanticism, and Abolitionism, specializing in writers such as Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, and Frederick Douglass. Dr. King continues to read deeply in recent and contemporary poetry, and he consistently writes and publishes his own work, organizes poetry, music, and visual-art events, and serves on the Board of Trustees for Cuneiform Press. He is very happy to be teaching at a school that makes holistic growth and scholarly rigor a priority as Kirby Hall does. In his new role as Dean of Middle and Upper Schools, he serves as a sort of academic mentor as students transition between grades at Kirby Hall and prepare for success in college. For Upper School students, Dr. King will guide them through essay-writing and entrance exams, as well as serve as their main advisor during the college selection process.
