Last Friday, Catherine Carter, wife of Head of School John Palfrey, sat down for an interview with The Phillipian staff.
Was coming to Phillips Academy a surprise?
It was a surprise—very much so. When the opportunity came up, it was really interesting, and the more we thought about it, the more we talked about it, we got excited and realized this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you just don’t pass up. I feel lucky especially for the children, because this is such a fantastic place to move to, to live in. I expect this will be enormously enriching and a boon for my whole family.
What was it like moving from Cambridge to Andover?
I’m from New York originally, so this is my first time not living in a city. We had been in Cambridge for 20 years, and I really do love that community. But [Andover] has been wonderful. People have been generous, reaching out even before we got here. I cannot say enough about how welcoming and warm people have been… This isn’t to say that I didn’t love Cambridge… but I’m not missing the city vibe too much.
How do you see yourself becoming part of the school community?
That is a good question, and I don’t know the answer yet. At the outset, through whatever events we have at Phelps House and through attending sports events, concerts and things like that—just being here and being a presence on campus.
How does your family like it here?
[My children] Jack and Emeline like it very much. There are plenty of faculty kids, which is great, and having this much space gives them a lot of freedom. They are truly thrilled to be at Phillips Academy. The faculty kids themselves even reached out to them when they got here.
What did you think of the Investiture?
I felt blessed—really, really fortunate that [my family and I] were able to be part of something this special. I feel very grateful for all of the work people put into [the event]. It was seamless, happy and fantastic. It was really a joy… I was very touched by the gifts. My kids were so excited. My daughter [Emeline] was a little shy about the garland she had gotten, but as soon as she had an opportunity to check it out in the mirror, she put it on and wore it for the rest of the reception… We had a lot of family members here… A lot of John [Palfrey’s] family was able to come, which was really meaningful. It was a new chapter for our family, and we were thrilled.
What have been your most fun or memorable moments at Andover so far?
A lot of interesting things have happened. What’s coming to mind doesn’t sound too happy, but our dog got skunked for the first time. It happened the first week we were here. Also, that first night we were here, we saw a woodchuck in the yard, and I had never seen one before. So, actually, those were actually kind of “Wow, we’re somewhere different” moments, and that was nice. I think, in the first few weeks, our first experiences were just having other faculty members’ children around in the evening, playing capture the flag on our lawn or the fact that, last Sunday, my son got a notion to play football, and within half an hour there were six boys in our backyard. My son’s also playing on a few town teams for baseball and soccer [which] helps me get to know the community more. [Jack and Emeline] are going to [Bancroft Elementary School], so we’re meeting plenty of people in and out of Phillips Academy.
As part of your transition here, did you ever talk to David Chase, husband of former Head of School Barbara Chase?
Both Mr. and Mrs. Chase were really wonderful to us. Mr. Chase was incredibly helpful, and is amazingly knowledgeable about the school and has a great historical perspective on things… I knew of his blue shark tradition. We were the recipients of some gummy sharks which my kids liked very much, and I liked that he handed those out at events like sporting events.
Will you continue the gummy shark tradition?
I’ve had a lot of conversations with my son about this, and I sort of feel the shark [tradition] was David’s and should stay his. I’ll have to think about it. If you have any ideas, let me know. It would be nice to identify [a tradition] like that.
Do you have a favorite spot on campus yet?
I think the whole campus is so gorgeous. The only place I’ve really spent a lot of time in is the Sanctuary. I like to run there. I’m excited to discover [some favorite spots], especially in the autumn—this campus is meant for that season. We’re still getting to know the place. In the spring, I’m sure I’ll have some answers.
What is your educational and professional background?
I studied English and American Literature and Language at Harvard College, which I loved. [John Palfrey and I] have lived in Cambridge for a long time. I worked in publishing after college, but I found out that publishing wasn’t really for me. I tried a bunch of things, including [working] as a copywriter. Then I got a Master’s Degree in childhood education at Tufts University.
As an English major, what are your favorite books?
I just finished “Moby Dick,” which I love, and it took me quite a while to finish it… I really love this book by Nicole Krauss, “The History of Love.” I’m also a [Charlotte] Brontë fan and a [Jane] Austen fan. I love poetry too, actually. I’m a fan of Kevin Young and Jeffrey Yang.
