John Palfrey's avatarJohn Palfrey

President, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Head of School Bookshelf, Winter, 2016 Edition

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For the cozy Sundays in New England, with snow lying all around (as it is this morning in Andover, MA), here’s the line-up of books I have put out on the Head of School bookshelf for faculty at Phillips Academy: James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time.  I re-read it over the winter holiday break and … Read more

Introduction of George H.W. Bush at All School Meeting, Phillips Academy

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This morning, President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush surprised our student body by joining us for All School Meeting in Cochran Chapel at Phillips Academy.  The All School Meeting featured Mary Kate Cary and the film she produced, “41 on 41,” about the life of President Bush. Good morning, Andover. This morning we … Read more

Head of School Bookshelf, Fiction Edition, Fall, 2015

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A few times a year, I share a booklist with the Phillips Academy faculty and offer up copies of the selections on a bookshelf outside my office.  I’m going with an all-fiction Head of School bookshelf for Fall, 2015. Last Spring, a faculty colleague suggested that I try a fiction list next, because that might … Read more

All School Meeting Address: Sexuality and Healthy Relationships

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The text below is of an All School Meeting address of September 22, 2015.  Warning: I use graphic language below. Good morning, Andover. Yes, you did hear right: this morning, we are going to talk about sex in this chapel. I realize that might sound awkward to some of you, but I ask for your close attention … Read more

An unfortunate incident, a teachable moment

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Below is a letter I sent to students and parents of Phillips Academy in response to an unfortunate incident involving a group of our recent graduates.

On Sunday, we celebrated Commencement in our 237th year under blue skies. We graduated 328 exceptional students, capping a fine year at Andover across the board—in the arts, athletics, community service, and academics. These students and their families as well as our faculty and staff have every reason to be proud of the community’s accomplishments this year.

A few hours later, 74 of our new graduates found themselves in protective custody in Sunapee, New Hampshire, for alleged acts at a party in a rented home. According to police reports, 51 of our graduates passed a breathalyzer test; 23 of our graduates did not and, as a result, face a court date in August for underage consumption of alcohol. Fortunately none of our graduates was hurt. All were released to responsible parents and guardians.

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Head of School Bookshelf: The Teaching, Talent and Testing Edition, Spring 2015

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The long flights to and from East Asia this Spring Break afforded time to catch up on a stack of books I’ve been meaning to read for a while.  For this Spring’s Head of School bookshelf, I’ve selected a series of titles focused on psychology and policy relevant to the secondary school field in education. … Read more

End of Tuition Day: The Importance of Gratitude and of Paying It Forward

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Today marks a special day in our academic calendar: it is End of Tuition Day.  From this day forward in the school year, everything is free for every student. What exactly do I mean by “free”?  And what do I mean for “every” student? As a need-blind school, we are enormously fortunate that we are … Read more

All School Meeting Address: Winter Welcome 2014 and Discussions in the Wake of Ferguson

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Good morning, Andover! Over the Thanksgiving break, I wrote to you all an email, asking that you take some time to understand what was happening in Ferguson, Missouri.  A few members of the community — a student and a parent, in particular — wrote me back, respectfully, with deep concerns about what I had written, … Read more

Head of School Bookshelf: The Innovators Edition

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On October 17, 2014, we are launching the Andover Institute at Phillips Academy.  The Institute will be a hub for innovation at PA, where our students, faculty, and others come together to explore new ideas in teaching and learning at the secondary school level.  The idea is to have a “Bell Labs” here at Andover … Read more

The Web at 25: Looking Ahead to What Might Be

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The Web turns 25 years old this year. What has changed since Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a scientist at CERN in Switzerland, released this gift to the world in 1989? The easier question to answer might be to ask what hasn’t changed. The widespread use of the Web in communities all around the world has touched … Read more