Temba Maqubela
F A M I LY
Headmaster
Temba Maqubela began his tenure as the eighth headmaster of Groton School in July of 2013. Born and raised in South Africa, Mr. Maqubela earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky. After teaching at Maru-a-Pula School in Botswana and Long Island City High School in New York, Mr. Maqubela joined the faculty of Phillips Academy. During his twenty-five years at Andover, Mr. Maqubela served as the Assistant Headmaster for Academics and Dean of Faculty; chaired the Chemistry Department; launched the ACE Scholars Program, which tackles the preparation gap among gifted students; and took the lead on Andover’s Global Perspectives Group. Mr. Maqubela has received an Inspirational Teacher Award from MIT, the Desmond Tutu Social Justice Award from South Africa Partners, and has been inducted into the American Chemical Society’s Aula Laudis Society. He is married to Vuyelwa Maqubela, who has taught in Soweto, South Africa, and at the Pike School, Pingree School, and Phillips Academy, where she ran a dormitory for twenty-five years. She now teaches English at Groton. Mrs. Maqubela has directed the Independent School South Africa Education Program; launched the African Studies Institute with Mr. Maqubela and other colleagues; and codirected the Andover Breadloaf Writing Workshop. The Maqubelas are the proud parents of three grown sons, Kanyi, Pumi, and Tebs.
PARLOR Students visit the Headmaster’s House on Thursdays for Parlor, a casual gathering that offers cookies, board games, table tennis, laughter, and a time to relax with Mr. and Mrs. Maqubela.