NA NEWS
THE END OF AN ERA:
DAN ERLANDSON | 41 YEARS
D
an Erlandson has been impacting the lives of Newark Academy students since 1984.
His passion for educating and lending a
helping hand is evident in the various hats he’s worn throughout his 41-year career at NA, which include IB Environmental Science and Chemistry Teacher, Department Chair, Coach, Faculty Advisor, Community Service Advisor, Graduation Coordinator, NA Summer Program Assistant Director and master academic schedule designer! To put it simply, Dan has been the “go-to guy” for just about anything and everything at Newark Academy and his presence will be deeply missed by all as he embarks on a well-earned retirement.
I had the privilege of being a student in Dan Erlandson’s chemistry class in the early 2000’s. Dan mastered a teaching formula that combined passion, diligence and heart. My repeated struggles to grasp concepts like covalent and ionic bonds, despite countless hours of extra help, tested his equilibrium I’m sure. Yet, he always saw the best in his students, especially when they couldn’t see it in themselves. Now, as a teacher, I strive to embody the same qualities Dan exemplified throughout his career. His ability to inspire, encourage and uplift has yielded lasting imprints on countless lives. He has been a catalyst for positive energy and joy in our community, and his absence will be deeply felt. — Danny Petrillo ’06, NA Humanities Faculty “We are really going to miss Dan Erlandson. In my new role as Director of Sustainability, I’m in touch with alums now working in sustainability jobs, and they all speak about IB Enviro with Mr. Erlandson setting them on that path. Dan is not a bragger, just quietly professional in everything he does, but the students notice that he lives by the ideals he teaches. He’s led Senior Mountain Day for countless years, and he still flies up that mountain! My favorite Dan moments were rooming together on the India faculty trip, even getting a very close shave together. Can you picture that now?” — Neil Stourton, NA’s Director of Sustainability
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SPRING 2025