Phil Goodnow is a teacher, coach, and musician.  He's been at Proctor for fifteen years. This term he is teaching (honors) US history, AP US history, and AP Government. Each of these subjects requires lots of knowledge and dedication.  Phil teaches, learns from, and enjoys history because, “ I find the stories from our past fascinating.  It's important to gain a better understanding of this nation and its place in the world through the study of our past. Finally, historic facts provide many opportunities for students to develop critical thinking skills and organize evidence to defend a point of view.” 

Phil graduated from Davidson college in North Carolina. After his senior year of college he wanted to go into the navy, but instead decided to work in the small business that had been run by his father. Phil then married his high school girlfriend Lawre and started to settle down. Phil’s interest in teaching then started to blossom when he worked with the kids in his local church.  In 1984, Phil worked and taught at Noble and Greenough school in Massachusetts for three years. His passion for teaching had been kindled and soon he decided to go to Harvard to explore teaching further.  He graduated with a masters degree in teaching and has been in the classroom ever since. 

Three years ago Phil took on the big role of coaching the uncoachable, the jv hockey team. Without an assistant couch or any help, he jumped right into it and put all of his heart into pulling the team together. Three years later, Phil is still coaching hockey, but now he has two assistant coaches and more experience under his belt.  When asked what is the hardest thing about coaching hockey, he had this to say: “Finding a collection of drills that allow for players of different abilities to be able to execute and from which they can learn about the game.”  Phil started playing hockey at the age of five in Providence, RI and played through prep school at Groton. When he taught at Noble and Greenough he also coached hockey.  When I asked why he coaches hockey, Phil said, “The hockey rink is a great practice and game venue.  The action is up close and personal with a certain intensity that you cannot find in any other sport.  I love it.”