Alumni Profile

Rob Oaks

Rob Oaks graduated from The School in Rose Valley in 1972 and is currently the parent of an Oldest Group student.

Rob Oaks' life journey has taken him many places. After graduating from SRV in 1972 he went to Ardmore Junior High, Friends Central, Johns Hopkins University and Cornell University. He has studied writing, electrical engineering and agricultural engineering. He has become a computer software expert. Rob lived in China and France. He started two computer software companies and was the Chief Technical Officer and a senior systems architect for local companies. With all that he's seen and done, Rob says, "I truly believe I wouldn't be half the person I am now if not for SRV." The school had such an impact on Rob that in 1996 he returned to this area with his wife, Clair, his teenage stepson, Elijah, and his young son, Caleb so that Caleb could be educated at SRV. Caleb is now in the Oldest Group.

Rob spoke passionately about SRV's "freedom with a fence around it" as an environment in which he could thrive as a child. He describes himself as having been a sensitive, introverted, intense and angry child. He believes he would have fallen through the cracks at any other school. Yet, in this intentionally small community he experienced both emotional and physical safety - the fence. What he remembers more than anything was being nurtured and kept safe while he learned, explored, and grew. Class sizes were small as they are today. Rob was well known not only by his classroom teachers, but also by the specials teachers and the rest of the staff. There was a strong connection between home and school; his teachers often spoke with his parents to find out how they could best support him. With this support and encouragement he flourished.

Even as a young child, Rob was intent on exploring who he was. The combination of the individualized attention and the solid relationship between home and school gave him that freedom to explore. Rob's first foray into photography was with teacher Mary Lou Gessel. In introducing the subject to her students, Mary Lou didn't give a textbook lesson about photography; rather, she put out Polaroid cameras and sent the children out to explore the campus through their lenses for two hours. The immediate results were satisfying and long-lasting. A photo Rob took of the horse graced the walls of the Dome for a long time. Rob also looked fondly back on the year his teacher Nancy Ewald immersed the class in Japan and Japanese culture. The curriculum was integrated with making kimonos, riding sedan chairs and other memorable experiences. He described the teachers as good risk takers, "pushing the envelope." This creative freedom had a compelling and enduring influence on Rob.

One of Rob's most self-actualizing experiences was when he was a student in the Oldest Group. He wanted a loft in the classroom and his teacher gave him the freedom to build it. She supported him as he drew up plans for the loft, raised the money to buy the materials, and took 3 or 4 days to build it. That loft was in use for about 25 years.

And Rob is still building and providing "freedom with fences" experiences for SRV students. A few years ago he installed a piece of art in a hidden location so children could happen upon it and dis cover the mystery and magic that he had so often experienced here as a child. He is also supporting students as they create a new Apple Core, a playground ship structure. Rob discussed the original Apple Core in the context of change. In the past few years many changes have taken place on campus. The Grace Rotzel Center was built, new play equipment has been installed, and Chip and Main have been renovated. Rob admits that change is hard for him. He misses the hall in Main and "even the small bathrooms." In talking about the changes, Rob reflected on how much safer it is here now. The original Apple Core was a wooden boat built around an old telephone pole that had been used as a May Fair activity - greased with a silver dollar at the top. Adding a crow's nest to the tall mast allowed children to climb to new heights. The demise of the original structure came about when children, unhappy with pebbles being tossed from the crow's nest, shook the mast bringing it tumbling down with a present teacher, to remain unnamed, and his friend in it. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The Apple Core was then recycled into shop projects. (A hint.)

The idea for a new Apple Core came about three years ago. Julian Guindon ('02), an Oldest Group student at the time, became fascinated by the story of the Apple Core when his class picked the song A Mighty Ship for Sing. Inquiring into the special verse written by the sixth grade class of 1968, Julian researched the original ship. With the help of Rob and another parent, John Baker, Julian led teams of his classmates as they researched, planned designs, and strategized fundraising. The class decided to concretely tie this project to the past not only by recreating a ship (this one of Julian's design), but also by incorporating lumber milled from trees felled to make room for the Grace Rotzel Center. Although Julian has graduated, his passion has been adopted by succeeding Oldest Groups who are still being supported by Rob and John. Just this fall they raised a major piece of the structure.

SRV's freedom with fences continues to provide students with the opportunities to investigate, discover, stretch themselves and follow their passions. No matter how much the physical campus may change to support the educational program at SRV, the core values remain the same in this intentionally small community. Children are well known, nurtured, and given the freedom to explore, grow, thrive and build.

Return to profile index.

Google

20 School Lane : Rose Valley, PA 19063 : 610.566.1088 : office@theschoolinrosevalley.org