After 30 Years, Science Department Chair Cecelia Pan Retires

Science Department Chair Cecelia Pan, who announced her departure earlier this school year, is closing a remarkable three-decade tenure of teaching, mentoring, and leading at the School.

Pan will retire not only from the classroom, but also from her roles as Director of Educational Initiatives and Co-Director of Faculty Retirement and Mentoring.

After 30 years of service, Pan said she is ready for a new chapter—one that will include traveling with friends and family, exploring new experiences, and embracing life beyond the daily rhythm of school.

“I’ve been teaching most of my adult life,” Pan said, “and there’s a little bit of me that wants to try something different.”

Part of this decision also stems from Pan’s desire to retire at an age where she would still be able to physically enjoy new things. 

Pan first joined the community as a biological sciences teacher in 1996, not long after the School became fully coeducational.  

Thinking back to her first encounter with the School that summer, Pan cited a conversation with her interviewer that drew her to the community.

“We had this amazing conversation about education and what it meant,” Pan said. “I got the sense that this was a place that really valued education, so that was what attracted me.”

A year after she joined, Pan was named Chair of the Science Department, and later became both the Director of Educational Initiatives and Co-Director of Faculty Recruitment and Mentoring. 

She also served as a longtime member of the Global Studies Diploma program, overseeing the science concentration.

Pan helps coordinate the accreditation process for the School while working with Middle School Head Carl Coombs to recruit and coach new faculty members.

The favorite part of her job, however, remains teaching science.

"The heart of why I teach is because I love science," Pan said. “But at the core of thinking about science education is how do we teach, why do we teach, and when do we teach it.”

Since joining the community 30 years ago, Pan has been deeply committed to improving the School’s science curriculum and helping her students grow in a variety of ways.

Upper School Science Teacher Nia Gipson, who joined the School three years ago, views Pan as deeply collaborative and supportive of colleagues’ creativity.

Since beginning to work with Pan, Gipson said she has admired her commitment to continually improving the student experience in science classrooms.

“She’s really focused on making sure that you’re providing the best science education possible for our students,” Gipson said. “Whether that’s getting new equipment or updating our skills, she really cares deeply about how science is taught.”

Though science education has consistently evolved over the past decades, Pan has remained open to innovation and new teaching approaches.

“She is still so open to any new thing that as a teacher you might think might be beneficial to your students,” Gipson said.

Head of School Judith Guild, who has worked with Pan for many decades, echoed Gipson's sentiment.

In the School’s recent Longevity Celebration honoring departing faculty members, Guild lauded Pan for her dedicated work in the School’s Science Department.

“As a science educator, Cecelia brought genuine passion to every conversation, whether discussing the latest discoveries in life science with colleagues or sparking curiosity in her students,” Guild said.