Meet Rob Scully: New Dean of Students

Rob Scully is focused on supporting the students at Souhegan High School and giving them a quality environment to grow.

He has just started his new position as the new dean of students at the high school, which supports the student community, policies and expectations.

Scully has been teaching 9th grade English for the past 12 years at Souhegan before moving into his new role in August. 

“It just is about promoting health environment for students to explore and challenge themselves,” said Scully. “If I am doing my job, I am supporting teachers who are developing opportunities, the staff who supports them and the kids themselves.”

The most enjoyable aspect of this new position is the dynamic of leadership that comes with Souhegan’s unique culture. He is already seeing how having dedicated faculty makes a difference, especially when there is an issue with students.

“The teachers are so involved, and when there is an issue the students come to me and are ready to move forward. Something like that is a great way to measure our success and shows we have great people.”

Although he misses being with the students in the classroom, he said that he is able to apply his style of teaching to his administrative duties. For example, sometimes he would have to work with the whole class for a group discussion, and sometimes they would need one-on-one attention. This balance between working with the student body and students in need of more specific attention remains in his dean position.

“I really don't see it as too different from being a teacher, but now I am no longer teaching English, but trying to instruct them on the school's mission statement and policies. It is all teaching and learning.”

He may not spend as much time in the classroom, but Scully is looking to diversify the office by working with teachers in their curriculum. He hopes to distance students from the idea that it is just a place where students are disciplined.

He has already had teachers approach him to have him come into the classroom and relate the themes in their literature to issues the school faces.

While he wants to maintain a presence in the classroom, his new dean position allows Scully to focus on the bigger picture and work on developing students to be successful members of the Souhegan community. Scully said that his assistant dean, John Young, has been instrumental in helping him achieve that goal.

As the school maintains its course on 21st century learning, Scully knows that students will face new challenges like cyber-bullying and other misuses of new technology. However, he said that the school will continue to deliver the same message of values and respect that it has given over the past 20 years.

FUN FACT: Rob Scully's dream is to travel the world and play Spanish guitar.