Kevin Cardozo, Instructor in Chemistry and Head of the Chemistry Department, was recently inducted into the Northeast Section of the American Chemical Society’s (NESACS) Aula Laudis Society. Temba Maqubela, Dean of Faculty and Instructor in Chemistry, described installment into the Aula Laudis Society as “…an honor, well-deserved to perhaps one of the best chemistry teachers in New England.” The NESACS chooses inductees based on a series of criteria to honor and award success in the chemistry teaching profession. Quantitatively, the NESACS evaluates based on student performance in chemistry competitions, awards given to the teacher to honor his or her teaching, involvement in student chemistry extra-curricular activities, positive feedback from past students and colleagues, and a series of other qualifications. The inductee must be a current or retired instructor of chemistry and he or she must teach at a secondary school. Only four teachers in the Northeast Region are chosen each year for the prestigious award. According to The Nucleus, the publication of NESACS, “Election to membership in Aula Laudis is a recognition of excellence in the teaching of chemistry at the secondary school level. This recognition is based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that involve the totality of an individual’s participation in and contribution to the teaching profession.” Mr. Cardozo said, “Although it is always nice to be personally recognized like this, if I was chosen because my students were well-prepared for the Chemistry Olympiad qualifying exam or because of good teaching in general, the honor could just as easily have been given to many of the other [Phillips Academy] chemistry teachers, who are all equally deserving.” The NESACS also uses success of alumni as a credential for this honor. Mr. Maqubela cited the vast success of alumni of Mr. Cardozo’s class due to the clarity of his teaching style. Deborah Carlisle, Instructor in Chemistry, said, “He has taught AP Chem for such a long time and he deserves to be rewarded for his terrific work. He is a very knowledgeable colleague and it is a pleasure working with him. I think this is wonderful. Go Mr. Cardozo!” Mr. Cardozo’s involvement with the American Chemical Society began when he coordinated qualified Andover students to take the Ashdown Exam, the preliminary qualifying exam for the US Chemistry Olympiad that NESACS organizes. The success of his students on these qualifying exams was one determinant for this recognition. Mr. Maqubela said, “Credit also goes to the students he has taught. Without them, the ACS Northeast section would never know about this great chemistry teacher.” Many of Mr. Cardozo’s past and current students emphasize the clarity with which he teaches. Michaeljit Sandhu ’09, a current student of Mr. Cardozo said, “Mr. Cardozo is a committed teacher who manages to make complex chemistry concepts compelling.” Likewise, Sayoko Kumamaru ’08, a past student of Mr. Cardozo ,said, “Especially for my first time taking chemistry, [Mr. Cardozo] would explain [concepts] so well. He is just a good teacher.” Mr. Cardozo began his career at Andover while teaching at Summer Session in 1991 and then spent a year teaching at Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. Mr. Cardozo returned to Andover in 1992 as an instructor in chemistry. Mr. Cardozo is currently the chair of the Chemistry Department. He teaches one section of Chemistry 300 and one section of Chemistry 550. The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a group of over 160,000 chemists of varying levels and has met since 1876. ACS functions as a support group and forum for chemists. Through membership in ACS, one can gain scholarships, workshops, awards and career services.
