English Teacher Brings Meditation to Boarding School

A teacher who once hid his meditation practice is now leading an entire school in mindfulness, and it all started with a student's courage.

Billy Fenton grew up in a family of "repressed Irish-Catholics" where his grandfather never wore shorts and spiritual practices were unheard of. But when anxiety and depression hit in his mid-20s, something unexpected called to him. He downloaded the Headspace app and started meditating for ten minutes each morning.

"I'm going to try this meditation thing, but I don't want it to change who I am," he told his father three days in. Two years later, his dad was driving him to the airport for a silent meditation retreat in Nepal.

The turning point came in 2018. Two young alumni from Wilbraham & Monson Academy, where Fenton taught English, died by suicide. When student Evan decided to speak about mental health at an all-school meeting, Fenton offered support. Together, they presented meditation as a tool for managing stress.

After the presentation, the Head of School—a former Army Ranger—was waiting outside. Fenton braced for criticism, but instead heard: "We need to bring meditation to campus. I want it to be you."

The school paid for Fenton to complete a 100-hour meditation teacher training in Boston. His instructor, Andy Kelley, was another working-class Irish-Catholic who never expected to teach meditation. "I started meditating to fall asleep," Kelley says. "Now, I meditate to fall awake."

Why This Inspires

Fenton's story shows how personal struggles can become powerful tools for helping others. By being vulnerable about his own mental health journey, he created space for students facing similar challenges. His willingness to "come out" as a meditator—something he initially resisted—opened doors for conversations about stress, anxiety, and wellness on campus.

The path from secret morning practice to school-wide meditation program wasn't one Fenton planned. But when tragedy struck and a student needed support, he showed up.

Now students at Wilbraham & Monson Academy have access to meditation training, proving that sometimes the best teachers are the ones who never planned to teach at all.