From the Head of School
LOOKING AHEAD TO ANDOVER’S FUTURE I began this letter on March 11, one year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Information was scarce, and uncertainty and fear were mounting. Andover, like all schools, was thrust into uncharted territory that, for months to come, would force us to reimagine how we deliver our program. By no means have we conquered the pandemic, but we have learned a lot about how to create safe learning environments. With testing, PPE, distancing, and a number of other health and safety measures in place, Andover has begun to repopulate the campus. All along, we have adjusted our approach as dictated by scientific evidence and public health guidance. Our fundamental challenge—balancing health risks against Andover’s mission to provide an exceptional, in-person residential education. We have stumbled at times, but we have never lost focus on the well-being of our campus community. In addition to the extraordinary efforts of faculty and staff, I am also inspired by the commitment of alumni and parents. Philanthropy helped to offset costs for necessities like testing and new technology. Local host families were essential in supporting students. Some alumni even returned to campus to serve as house counselors. Alumni admission representatives pivoted to remote recruitment—every campus “visit” and every interview took place virtually. I am pleased to report that applications increased 18 percent over last year. Not even a pandemic could diminish demand for an Andover education! As we look ahead, we must return our school to a more strategic focus. What will a post-pandemic
Andover look like? Our vision will be informed by a number of factors, including what we experienced this past year. An assessment of what we did well and where we fell short will help us reimagine Andover for years to come. What have we learned about our community and how we deliver education? What has the pandemic and its secondary effects revealed about the needs of our students? What changes might result in a deeper intellectual experience, a more equitable Andover? Animated discussions around a table or next to a lab partner can never be replaced by Zoom. Still, I believe there is something to be gained from these remote interactions. Have students grown in their ability to engage in self-directed learning? If so, will that translate to accelerated learning when they return to the classroom? For those who struggled in remote settings, how might we rethink the support they need and deserve when they return to campus? I expect the answers to these questions will guide us long after the pandemic has subsided, and we no longer have to worry about things like measuring the distance between us. I am confident that Andover will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. After all, what makes Andover truly excellent is its eagerness to evolve and to recreate itself in the context of education and society today. Thank you for playing a vital role in this evolution.
Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24 Head of School
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