PCSS Dean of Students ran Boston Marathon with student support

On Monday, April 15, Pioneer Charter School of Science (PCSS) Dean Vick Jean lined up with thousands of other accomplished runners to run the most prestigious race in America: the Boston Marathon. A lifelong goal, Jean ran the city’s 128th race with PCSS students cheering for him along the famed route.

“You can run a million different marathons, but you have to run Boston to be a legitimate runner,” said Jean. “The minute you say you’re running Boston, there’s a level of acceptance.”

Now the Dean of PCSS in Everett, Jean began his career teaching Health and Physical Education in Boston Public Schools. From there, he transitioned to South Boston High as Director of Student Support and part of their administrative team. He is now in his third year with PCSS as the Dean and track and football coach. He credits his extracurricular athletic endeavors to the support he has within PCSS.

“I found a community here, and it has really helped me to focus on training,” said Jean. “Not wanting to let the community down, it’s a sense of pride.”

A former football player at Charlestown High, Jean began running to stay healthy. When friends started encouraging him to run 5ks, he set out to tackle the Chicago Marathon in 2021. It was at that race that Jean set his sights on Boston. While he is proud of his Chicago accomplishment and other races he has run out of state, he says that running his hometown race was his lifelong goal.

Dean Jean runs with the Heartbreakers of the Heartbreak Hill Running Co., a Boston institution. His running team and Coach, Dan, kept him motivated and disciplined in his quest to complete the Boston Marathon. The team has trained every Saturday since Christmas of 2023 despite the fickle and inclement New England weather. Part of his training includes proper nutrition, as PCSS students have been quick to remind him.

“On Fridays, we get pizza. Some students remind me that I couldn’t have it,” said Jean. “They care. They will say, ‘You have to finish the race, no pizza for you!’ They keep me honest.”

PCSS students and student-athletes coached by Jean were along the course on Marathon Monday to cheer their mentor and coach on as he accomplished his goal. Seeing them there kept Jean excited and focused, and his biggest advice to his students and novice runners is to stay the course and keep reaching for the next goal.

Jean completed his lifelong goal with a finish time of 6:05:33. Post-race, Jean’s new goal was to procure an “extra-large vanilla milkshake,” a treat training has prevented him from enjoying.

Dean Jean was running for the Boston Running Collaborative; for more information go to https://www.baa.org/get-involved/boston-running-collaborative