Peter Ross
Head of School
prossREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermontcommons.org
Graduate Degree
- MA – Environmental Science Education, University of Michigan
Undergraduate Degree
- BA – Major: Physical Geography, Social Studies, Minor: Environmental Studies, University of Michigan
Career Positions
- Assistant Principal, South Burlington High School
- Director of Alumni and Development, South Burlington School District
- Associate Head of School / Director of Finance and Operations, Purnell School
- Acting Head of School, Purnell School
- Assistant Head of School, Dean of Students, Director of Residential Life, Purnell School
- Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach, University of Michigan
Activities
- Varsity Baseball, Varsity M Club, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Cape Cod Collegiate Baseball League
Recognition
- Michiguama Senior Honorary Society, University of Michigan
- Distinguished Life Time Service Award, Purnell School
- Peter H. Ross Student Athlete Award established upon retirement, Purnell School
- Peter H. Ross Outdoor Adventure Center named upon retirement, Purnell School
Current and Past Community Activities
- Long Point Corporation Board of Directors – President
- South Burlington Schools’ Foundation
- South Burlington Rotary
- Town of Hinesburg Development Review Board
- Hinesburg Land Trust
- New Jersey youth and community programs
Best VCS moment
Working with colleagues and students committed to a vision that honors creativity and collaboration in an academic setting while challenging each individual to exceed their expectations.
Inspirational Quotation
"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need people who can dream of things that never were."
–John F. Kennedy
“Let the future bear the mark of our collective intelligence.”
Interests and Hobbies
Living life fully regardless of the moment. Spare time when it exists is filled by: woodworking/carpentry, painting/sketching, cycling, skiing, kayaking and engaging in political discussions particularly those related to social and environmental concerns.
Personal Statement
I chose to return to Vermont following a lengthy career in education while raising my two children in New Jersey. My family has been rooted in farming, education and the environment since the 1800s. Family heritage and public service have been instrumental in creating my value system. As a young boy I spent hours on Lake Champlain playing, hunting, and being nurtured by the beauty of the lake and the mountains surrounding it. As I have gotten older I seek time to enjoy and absorb a sunset in the summer, to listen to migrating geese in the fall, to feel the cold of a deep freeze in the winter, and to watch spring unfold as the leaves pop and fields come back to life. Having the opportunity to combine my personal values and interests with the students and faculty of Vermont Commons has been like coming home. During my first year Bob Skiff dropped in my office and asked how I was doing, My response was that my new career at VCS was like putting on an old glove. It just felt right. It still feels right. How can one complain about sharing experiences during Morning Meeting, climbing Mt. Abe with a group of students, joining an Encounter Week, observing and participating in classes and activities that encourage critical thinking, and sharing with the public how the Commons students model leadership when working with each other and with community groups. The bar has been set high at VCS. Students and faculty are expected to give their best; to be part of the solutions and not part of the problem. This attitude typifies the attitude that permeated my family: do the right thing; speak the truth even when it may not be the easy thing to do. These are just a couple of the values that distinguishes VCS and why I feel fortunate to be a member of the Vermont Commons community.