News

A Look Into the Lives of Faculty Children

Jack Palfrey ’21 and Kai Charland ’21 both entered Andover as Juniors this year.

Jack Palfrey ’21 first moved to Andover six years ago when his father John Palfrey P’21 was named Head of School. He then, by default, became part of a specific group of students and children at Andover: the faculty kids.

“My first friends here were faculty kids, and I still am close with many of them today. Even though we may be [at Andover for] different years, we still are very friendly with one another, and I am grateful to have been able to get to know so many of them,” he said.

As a faculty kid, Angel Cleare ’19 looked up to students that she met in dorms and on pathways.  “I remember there was this one girl named Auguste [White ’17] — she graduated last year — and I really looked up to her in seventh grade,” she said.

Cleare, however, said many students assume that her parentage significantly affected her chances for admissions. “People make a lot of jokes about faculty kids. Also, I remember when I applied here, people thought I just got in because of my mom was a teacher here, and not [because] of my application,” she said.

Kai Charland ’21 recalled his first memory interacting with “grown-up” high school students.

“[As] I grew up going to [Paresky Commons], I just saw all the older people [and] all their big book bags. They looked pretty professional. I would wonder what it would be like to grow up and maybe be like them… [when I became a student],” Charland said. 

Current student faculty children have found that living on campus can have both advantages and logistical disadvantages, such as an awkward situation that Norman Walker ’20 described.

“The situation is a bit strange because when all the day students leave, you’re here, and you’re not hanging out with the boarders past sign-in. I’m basically a day student that lives very near campus.” said Walker.

However, not all of Andover’s faculty kids are part of the student body. Will Ware, nine; and Neily Ware, 11, say they appreciate how living on campus allows them to connect with a vibrant student culture.

“So, me and my faculty-kid friends,  we like to be the ‘Junior Blue Keys,’ and so at Andover/Exeter, me and my friends go on the field with the Blue Keys and do cheers with them, and that’s a lot of fun,” Will Ware said.

The McQuades — Owen, seven; Ella, five; and Bridget, three — are also faculty children. Owen McQuade particularly enjoys attending performances put on by the Andover Department of Theatre and Dance.

“…at [George Washington Hall] they usually have performances. I like those. The Grasshoppers,” said Owen McQuade.