Taylor Redoux

by Lee Wicks

On a Wednesday afternoon, Academic Dean John Taylor takes an hour from his day to talk about his current position and the experience of returning to Deerfield after a five-year absence. He is interested in Deerfield in particular and education and social change in general. As the conversation turns towards the use of technology on campus (which has grown dramatically in the time he's been away), he cites a recent article in The New York Times that concerns itself with the impact of new technologies on the social development of children. As the conversation shoots off on tangents, as most good conversations do, he quickly refers to a UCLA study and a Newsweek article - both dealing with adolescent development and education. But this does not mean that his job allows him a great deal of time to read. It was the recent spring break that afforded those precious moments for reading and reflection.

Taylor is a new face for new people on campus, but for anyone who worked at Deerfield between 1990 and 2000 he's an old friend and colleague. To a complicated and demanding position he brings two important qualities--thorough knowledge of Deerfield and an understanding of what he calls "Deerfield's culture of high expectations," and fresh ideas wrought from his years as head of school at Saint Andrew's Scots School in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a day school serving 1900 students ages 3-18.

The complexities of managing the academic experience at Deerfield, from helping with course selection to answering a myriad of questions from newly accepted students, from explaining why we will not permit students to take six courses, to counseling juniors that there is no magic course selection formula that will ensure acceptance at certain colleges, does not daunt Taylor. At Saint Andrew's he responded to the needs of very young children as well as teenagers, gave eight separate commencement addresses and lived in a world that provided little privacy. He says he will never have a harder job.

At Deerfield he sits comfortably in his sunny office and although he is very busy, he is not frantic. He's a man who loves laughter, and displays a wide, proud smile when talking about his wife Mercedes' accomplishments as an artist or about his children, Sophia and Maia, ages eight and ten. Raising his children in the safety and peaceful environment of Deerfield was one among many reasons for his return.

What has surprised him? "The timelessness of this place is perhaps the biggest surprise of all," he says. He finds it reassuring to come back to a place that is as lovely as and perhaps even more beautiful than he remembered. Since 2000 Deerfield has become even more selective and the ability level of the students, although not a surprise, is nonetheless, impressive. Deerfield's international focus has also impressed Taylor. Enrolling students from all over the world, becoming a Round Square School and hosting the organization's annual conference, and sending students out to participate in service opportunities all over the world, has made Deerfield a much more global community of learners. That said, Taylor adds that the academy can and must do more. In Argentina all children are bilingual before they come to school. At Saint Andrew's, performing arts groups and sports teams regularly traveled to Europe. At Deerfield he would encourage even more travel, outreach and more exposure to other cultures. He says, "I don't think we have a choice. America must take responsibility for its enormous power and raise global citizens who will understand and accept other cultures."

Invested now in a conversational topic that means a great deal to him, Taylor wishes he had more time to talk. But the bells chime; he checks the clock. Time to teach, an activity that he sees as essential. To anyone considering an administrative position at Deerfield, his first piece of advice would be to teach a course. "It's the best way to take the pulse of the school," he says.