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March 10, 2006
ANDOVER, Mass. — John E. Rogers has been appointed to a six-year term (2006–2012) as dean of studies for Phillips Academy. He will be taking over the position from Margarita R. O. Curtis, who will be leaving Andover at the end of the school year to become the 55th head of school of Deerfield Academy. Rogers will assume the position of dean of studies on July 1.
As dean of studies, Rogers will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the academic program of the school. He will be a member of the Academy’s Senior Administrative Council and will work closely with the dean of faculty and the head of school on issues related to curriculum development and the implementation of the school’s new Strategic Plan.
Rogers first came to Andover in 1990 as a physics instructor and over the years, in addition to physics, has taught chemistry and environmental courses. From 1994 to 1995, he co-chaired the Science Program Planning Committee, which evaluated the Academy’s science program and helped lay the groundwork for the creation of the state-of-the-art Gelb Science Center. In 1999, he became the first head of the division of natural sciences, and during his five years in that position, he played a leading role in the design and construction of the Gelb. Rogers has also served as a house counselor in four different dorms and as a coach for the JV soccer and track teams.
In announcing the appointment, Dean of Faculty Temba Maqubela said Rogers was selected for the position from a pool of four well-qualified internal candidates. “I would like to thank first the colleagues who put their names forward and also the many faculty who wrote in support of all the candidates. Their input was a significant factor in informing me about how to move forward in appointing the next dean of studies.”
Noting Rogers’ performance as head of the science division and his instrumental role in spearheading the planning for the Gelb Science Center, Maqubela added, “John has a rare combination of brilliance, vision, and diplomacy that is needed to guide us through the implementation of the academic program component of our very bold Strategic Plan. Unlike listeners who only hear what they want to hear, John will be able to hear what people are saying and weigh in a careful and deliberate manner what the potential impact of a particular point of view will have on the success of the plan in particular and on our mission as a school in general. He has vast experience in bringing faculty of diverse opinions together to agree on a common purpose.”
In commenting on the appointment, Elaine Crivelli, chair of the art department, said, “I worked with John Rogers on the Academic Council for seven years, and I have great respect for him. I always thought of John as a voice of reason whose words were often heard at just the right moment. John is logical yet sensitive to difficult issues. John sees the curriculum in the broadest sense, and in light of the Strategic Plan, John will consider what is best for our students.”
Echoing those sentiments, Jonathan Stableford, chair of the English department, noted, “Of course, I consider John a friend, but when I look at him professionally, what strikes me most are his broad interests. As dean of studies, his work must bridge between disciplines, something he already does well in his own intellect.”
In addition to his work on the Gelb, Rogers cites two other experiences as having played a crucial role in his ability to think broadly and creatively about curriculum issues. One of those experiences was the five summers he spent working on the Oceans program with English instructor Randall Peffer. During the six-week program, the instructors would take students out into the ocean to conduct studies. “It was a totally different kind of teaching experience,” says Rogers, “and it really helped me think about the possibilities for experiential teaching.”
Rogers also spent five summers working with the Academy’s International Academic Partnership program, which involved teaching teachers in Pakistan, India, and Uganda. “That was very useful in helping me think about curriculum and developing my ability to think outside the box.”
Rogers says he is excited by the dean of studies position and the opportunity it presents to help the school achieve the goals of the Strategic Plan. “I’ve always been interested in thinking broadly about curriculum issues, so it’s very exciting to have the opportunity to help facilitate interdisciplinary work and help teachers get the opportunity to engage in that type of work.
“The various task forces that have worked on the Strategic Plan have generated lots of specific ideas in that regard,” he adds. “I’m looking forward to contributing to the discussion of which of those ideas we want to adopt and how to implement them.”
Rogers holds a BS degree in chemistry, with a minor in physics, from the University of Virginia and a master's degree from Harvard University.
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