As a natural part of any community's lifecycle, each year faculty and staff retire or depart for other endeavors, while a new group of talented educators join Proctor. Over the past few days, this group of dynamic, energized teachers has enjoyed (we think!) a thorough orientation to all aspects of life at Proctor. With students arriving in just over a week, we asked each of our new faculty members to share a few fun facts about themselves. 

John Bouton - English Department

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I am most excited to join Proctor's faculty because of my observations of the character of the place. So far, my experience has involved meeting talented, committed, and positive colleagues, invested students, and visionary leaders. I am thrilled to be able to grow in such a community, and I hope to share my experience and enthusiasm for ideas, art, and other people.

If you could take part in any of Proctor's off-campus programs, which would it be?

Having spent much of my life messing about in small boats, I would relish the chance to work aboard Roseway as part of Ocean Classroom. One of my mantras is to pursue what the poet W.B. Yeats has called "The fascination of what's difficult." Applying awareness and knowledge in the teeth of maritime elements would surely activate and test all of me.

What is one of your favorite pastimes? 

I restored and have enjoyed sailing a 1957 Dyer Dhow that I found on the side of the road in Maine several summers ago. My favorite part is looking up into the rigging into a halcyon summer sky and seeing only spruce spars and cotton halyards, a white sail aloft; I feel as if I'm back in an earlier era, the Golden Age of Sail. My enthusiasm for this particular dinghy also lies in the fact that I learned to sail on my family's Dyer Dhow as a child growing up on Long Island Sound, so I feel as if I have reclaimed a piece of the past.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Controlling time would be an awesome superpower. I would love to observe past and future as I traveled in time.

What is an adventure you went on recently?

Settling our family into our new home in New London limited my adventures this summer, but last summer I had two that stand out (and continue a theme; it's time to diversify my interests!). Last July I hoisted that dinghy onto the roof of our Honda Fit and drove it over to Norwalk, Connecticut, where I have family roots. I launched into Norwalk Harbor and spent the day under outboard power exploring the waters of home, battling huge waves from powerboats and gusty winds. Later that summer I spent a week camping in Brooklin, Maine, taking a boatbuilding class at The WoodenBoat School (where I learned I should keep my day job; I'm no boatbuilder) and enjoying WoodenBoat's fleet of traditional sailboats. The highlight was climbing aboard E.B. White's sloop and contemplating his essay "The Sea and the Wind That Blows" as I thought about the author's influence on me and my sense of place. In both cases I came away with a renewed appreciation for technical competence and a heightened reminder of humility and gratitude for the blessings of time on the water.  

Starr Fair P'19 - Math Department 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I am excited to join the Proctor community because of the focus on whole person growth, not just test scores, which is evident in the personal connections I have witnessed between faculty, staff and students. Having experienced Proctor as a parent and observing the interactions of my daughter and the teachers and staff, I know that Proctor’s environment supports better connections with my students, which, in turn, will help me support their learning experience and better help them be successful.

If you could take part in any of Proctor's off-campus programs, which would it be?

My knee jerk reaction to this question is Ocean Classroom, because I love being at and on the ocean.  Upon deeper reflection, my choice would be Proctor in Costa Rica. Deforestation is such a huge problem in our world, and, in places like Borneo and Sumatra, has led to the critical endangerment of many organisms, including my favorite, orangutans.  I would love to see the the environmental education program that the Cloud Forest School is running, as well as the reforestation work that they are doing. This type of education, and work, is vitally important, and it would be a privilege to see something I feel passionate about up close.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

It doesn’t happen near as much as it should, but I like to escape to different places in the pages of a good book. The summer reading assignment was a great reason to sit down with a few new books and authors.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?  

Super speed.  It would be nice to reduce the more mundane elements of a day (chores, commuting, etc) to a smaller fraction of time in order to spend more time on the things, and people, that we love!

What is an adventure you went on recently?  

I was fortunate to attend an International Baccalaureate (IB) 3 day training in San Francisco, which was my first trip to the West Coast.  On the last day, my group flew out early, but I, being a last minute addition to the trip, had booked a much later flight. I spent the day by myself enjoying the harbor views, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then hiking up and down along the coastline.  I was able to put my feet in the Pacific Ocean!

Anna-Marie Hanlon P' 07, '10 - Learning Skills Department

What most excites you about shifting roles within the Proctor community this year?

I have been at Proctor going on my twentieth year. I have had an amazing position as help desk specialist where I assisted many students and faculty with technology issues.  This year I will be joining the learning skills team. I look forward to working one on one supporting students along their journey through Proctor and beyond.

If you could take part in any of Proctor's off-campus programs, which would it be?

I would love to participate in all of them really.  I think all the programs are amazing, however I do have a love for the ocean, and would choose ocean classroom as the first one on my list.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

I have an amazing family that I love spending time with. I also love to kayak, hike, paint and play with my dog Brady.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I would love to give all of Proctor students the passion to be lifelong learners.  I am definitely a lifelong learner. I am currently enrolled in a graduate course now at UNH for assistive technology.

What is an adventure you went on recently?

I recently traveled to Quebec to try to locate the farm where my father grew up.  I learned so much about my father and was able to locate his farm and visit the many places he told me about.  I also learned more about my Mohawk Iroquois heritage.

Quinn Harper - Mountain Classroom Instructor

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I've joined lots of different communities over the last few years working seasonally in outdoor education and adventure travel guiding, and it's alway heartening to find a community of passionate and committed folks working on the things they love. Passion and commitment are qualities that the Proctor community seems to have in spades.

If you could take part in any of Proctor's off-campus programs, which would it be?

Well, luckily, I actually get to go on Mountain Classroom this year, which I am more than thrilled about. Besides that I would likely have chosen Ocean Classroom. I've spent my whole life bouncing around between Edward Abbeys designations of people as men of the sea, mountain men, and desert rats.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

I think I just need to give a list here: Backpacking, rock climbing, sailing, trivia nights, and picking the banjo by a campfire.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I DO have a few everyday superpowers: I'm really really good at peeling clementines in a single piece, and I'm also very good at skipping rocks. But if I were to have an actual superpower, I think I would have to go with flight, an oldie but a goodie.

What is an adventure you went on recently?

Just a few weeks ago I led my first climb on trad gear, which is something I've been working towards since starting climbing seriously this winter. I'm really excited to keep my progressions going and explore the options here in the Granite State!

John Miller P'19 - Social Science Department 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I have been familiar with Proctor for the past few years because my son is a student here.  I was always struck by the community aspect of Proctor, and how welcoming and inclusive the people here are.  As a teacher I really enjoy collaboration with colleagues and really getting to know my students, so Proctor seems like a great place to work.

If you could take part in any of Proctor's off-campus programs, which would it be?

Can I do them all?  If that is not an option, I think I would do Ocean Classroom because it is an experience you are probably going to be unable to replicate anytime else in your life.  So Ocean it is.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

I enjoy water sports, running, biking, and hiking.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Another tough question - but if I had to pick just one it would be flying.

What is an adventure you went on recently?

I recently returned from Acadia National Park where I did some fairly vertical hiking, exploring, and kayaking.

Daniel Griffin - Admissions Team, Mac House Dorm Parent

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I am most excited about joining the Proctor community because it is a dedicated group of people who are invested in impacting the lives of young people. I believe that I can learn a lot from the faculty and students here! Proctor is one of most unique independent school communities and I am certain that not a day will go by where I do not learn something new.

If you could take part in any of Proctor's off-campus programs, which would it be?

That's so tough! I think it's a tie between Mountain Classroom and Proctor en Segovia.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

I love to cook, listen to and collect vinyl records, hike with my dog Georgia, go to the movies with my wife, and read.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I would like to be able to read my dog’s thoughts. I often wonder what she is thinking.

What is an adventure you went on recently?

My wife, Courtney, and I went on an Eastern European adventure this summer. We started in Split, Croatia then to Lake Bled, Slovenia on to Krakow and Zielona Gora in Poland and then finished the trip in Berlin. I loved the beaches and food in Croatia. Courtney and I also visited locations where scenes from Game of Thrones had been filmed.

Jeff Hudkins - Wise Center Manager

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I am excited to meet new people, get to know the students, faculty and staff, and become a part of everything that Proctor has to offer. 

If you could take part in any of Proctor's off-campus programs, which would it be?

I would pick one of the Summer Service Learning Trips to Guatemala or the Rosebud Reservation. It would be a unique opportunity to expand oneself in that direction.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

My favorite pastime is reading about WW1 and WW2. I am fascinated by history and can never get enough reading time!

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Mind reading. Always good to know who and what your dealing with!

What is an adventure you went on recently?