 | | Message from the Head of School | |
Welcome to the Lake Forest Academy website. I am very proud to serve as Head of School at this remarkable educational institution, with its emphasis on excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.
Lake Forest Academy has a rich history. Today’s school is the product of a boys’ school founded in 1857 and a girls’ school, Ferry Hall, founded in 1869. The boys’ school moved to its current location in 1948. And in 1974, the schools merged on the present campus as a coeducational college preparatory school. Although about half of LFA’s enrollment is composed of day students, LFA operates as a boarding school. We bring together students from all over the world and from a wide range of backgrounds. About 75 per cent of our teachers live on campus, and LFA continues to value the crucial role that teachers can play in a student’s life not just in the classroom, but also on the playing fields, on the stage, and in the dorm. Day students and boarding students alike benefit from a diverse student body, an educational program that continues into the evening and on weekends, and faculty members who are committed to the development of the whole child.
LFA provides each student with a challenging academic experience. We average 12 students in each classroom, and we offer a wide range of classes from Advanced Placement courses to digital music and language courses that incorporate experiences abroad. But an LFA education is not limited to a strong academic program. Students take part in clubs, service learning, athletics, and the arts. This broad range of experiences provides LFA students with a level of confidence, self-reliance, and empathy that enables them to be thoughtful, contributing members of any community.
LFA’s program is grounded in strong traditions, but we also look to the future. Our strategic plan calls upon us to promote the individual excellence of students, faculty, and staff; to create a culture of connectivity and community; to prepare students to be 21st century global citizens, and to continue to strengthen LFA’s already sound financial footing. It’s exciting to be part of an institution so rich in tradition but so committed to ongoing innovation and improvement in support of its mission.
I hope that you find the website helpful but please don’t hesitate to contact members of the LFA community directly for further information or assistance.
Welcome to Lake Forest Academy!
John A. Strudwick, Ph.D.
Head of School |
| | Head of School Office Contacts  John StrudwickHead of School, Acting Dean of External Relations, and History Instructor 847-615-3236 Year Appointed: 2001 A native of the United Kingdom, John Strudwick took the helm at LFA in July 2001 after 24 years of teaching, including 17 years at Philips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, as a teacher, Dean, coach, and dorm parent. His educational background is in economics, with a B.Sc. from the London School of Economics, an M.A. from Queen’s University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. As a member of the history department faculty, John has taught US History at LFA; he currently teaches Economics and AP Economics and team teaches Comparative African Studies.
Under John’s capable and strong leadership, LFA has grown in many ways: the student body and faculty are more numerous, better qualified, and more diverse than ever; the campus buildings and sports fields have been revitalized; the school’s reputation is excellent and well-recognized locally, nationally, and internationally; and the current comprehensive campaign will result in significant improvements in the school’s facilities and endowment. His foresight has produced a new mission statement, a vision statement, and a long-term strategic plan that unify the purpose of the entire school. John and his family, math teacher and Dean of Admission Loring, and children Jane, Andrew, and Ian live on campus in Wood House.
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 William DolbeeAssociate Head of School and History Instructor 847-615-3270 Year Appointed: 1984 Bill Dolbee is Associate Head of School and a member of the LFA History Department. He has a BA in History from Michigan State University and an MA in History from the University of North Carolina. Bill joined the faculty of LFA in 1984. He is an assistant football coach, assistant softball coach, and faculty sponsor of Model UN. He has two sons: Sam, LFA class of 2004, and Joey, LFA class of 2010. Bill lives with his wife Sue Peecher in Mundelein, Illinois. |
Sarah HillExecutive Assistant to the Head of School and Board of Trustees 847-615-3277 Year Appointed: 2001 Sarah Hill joined the LFA administrative staff in 2001 as Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Board of Trustees. She earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Science and Humanities from Barat College. Prior to coming to LFA, she worked in the Academic Dean and Business Offices at Barat College and in the Dean of the College Office at Lake Forest College, as well as for the Steel Tank Institute trade association. She lives with her family in Green Oaks. |
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