Lush green foliage and dense dew line the path students take every morning into the Ansin Breezeway. As they reach the Ringing Rock Bell, they are greeted by Dr. Don Cramp’s bow-tied smile and Mr. Petar Solomun’s barely reachable high-five. This year, there is a new addition to this blockade of joy in front of the breezeway: Ms. Elisabeth Anderson, who is starting her eighth year at Ransom Everglades, hopes to bring a positive outlook on the school’s new disciplinary changes as Assistant Dean of Students.
Ms. Anderson always wanted to be a teacher. From the formative years she spent as a student at Groton School in Massachusetts to leading a dorm at Kent School in Connecticut, values like intellectual curiosity, integrity and belonging formed her attitude toward education, instilled in her from a young age. Among the strict rules, uniforms and prefects that shaped her early years, Ms. Anderson “knew that [she] wanted to be an English teacher. [She] wanted to teach high school kids.”
Ms. Anderson recalls the exact moment she realized she wanted to teach high school English: she was sitting in class at Groton, looking out the window. While that happened in an instant, there were many experiences that built up to it.
“The English department at Groton School changed my whole life,” Ms. Anderson said. Seeing her teachers’ passion for their jobs inspired her to do what she loved as well. They taught her the deliberate and thoughtful practice of close reading and how “reading is not something you just do in a poem.” “My life is an homage to my teachers, who I loved so profoundly,” she said.
After a spontaneous decision to move to Miami, Ms. Anderson thought her time at Ransom Everglades would be “a one-year sabbatical to go right back to Connecticut.” However, falling in love with “the weather, the people and the school’s mission” convinced her to continue this journey. Almost a decade later, Ms. Anderson has taught a wide variety of courses at RE, including American Literary Movements, Forms of Literature and World Literature. She now dedicates her time to the school’s Advanced American Studies class.
Although the Assistant Dean of Students position is new this year, Dean of Students Mr. Petar Solomun said the reason for its addition “wasn’t really an inspiration” but rather a need for the Dean of Students Office to “be at more than one place at once.”
Mr. Solomun said he believes this was a good decision and that he looks forward to the expanded Dean of Students Office ensuring that life on campus goes smoothly. When asked how he hopes students will feel the effects of having an Assistant Dean of Students, Mr. Solomun added, “I hope they feel safe, happy and understand that it’s [our] job not to be the fun police, but to set expectations so everyone can enjoy their day at school.”
The Assistant Dean position is not entirely new. A memorable Dean of Students and Assistant Dean of Students duo in the past was Head of the Upper School Dr. Cramp, who served as Dean of Students from 2007 to 2012, and mathematics and computer science teacher Mr. Eric Lefebvre, who served as Assistant Dean from 2010 to 2012. Dr. Cramp said that when he first became Dean of Students in 2007, there was already an established Assistant Dean of Students. Mr. Owen Paris, who was close to retirement at the time, decided he would stay one more year to “show [Dr. Cramp] the ropes.” Dr. Cramp added that Chief Operating Officer Mr. David Clark ’86 had also worked with an Assistant Dean when he was Dean of Students.
Dr. Cramp noted that having an Assistant Dean “allows there to be more effective and efficient conversations—and therefore, outcomes.” The Dean of Students already has their hands full with programming calendars and conversations with teachers, so having two deans allows the office to “make even more differences, hear people, really dive into what’s best for the school community and just overall be more supportive.”
Dr. Cramp believes they are not just the Dean of Students but the “Dean for Students.” He added that traditions like dressing up with students for Halloween emphasize the importance of these roles as student advocates.
Allegra Orlofsky ’28, a student in Ms. Anderson’s Advanced American Studies class, described her as a truly dedicated teacher. “You can always tell that she cares. Throughout everything, no matter if you’re doing good or bad, she is always supportive and very nonjudgmental,” Orlofsky said.
Now, as she settles into her new position and the challenges that come with an administrative role, Ms. Anderson plans to use her experience to change students’ perspectives on consequences and better inform them of the responsibilities of the Dean of Students Office. Her philosophy focuses on framing growth as a privilege. “One of my goals is to help communicate that a consequence isn’t a character flaw,” she said. “Buying into a communal norm or set of values doesn’t necessarily reduce your individuality.”
Ms. Anderson hopes to create a welcoming and warm environment for the student body. She plans to always have her door open. “I’m also huge on feedback,” she said, adding that she hopes to create a positive “discourse around our standards and how and why we do anything.”
