Bledsoe on the Board of Governance for Andover Center for History and Culture

Articles, Education, Faculty
May 31, 2023
0 Comments

By Anika Nagle
STAFF WRITER

Ralph Bledsoe, a science teacher at Andover High School, was recently nominated to serve on the Board of Governance for the Andover Center for History and Culture. This role would entail helping manage the Center’s affairs and planning the steps that would be taken to further its missions.

The Andover Center for History and Culture (previously known as the Andover History Society) works to preserve the history of Andover. The center holds memorabilia dating back centuries, including an antique book collection containing books over 200 years old.

“They’ve basically tracked the history of this town… and are trying to be the center for the town to be able to, upon going in, appreciate what has happened here,” said Bledsoe.

“The History Center’s mission is to spark curiosity and inspire action by gathering and sharing stories that connect us to each other, our community, and the world,” added Elaine Clements, the executive director of the Andover Center for History and Culture.

In his newfound position, Bledsoe will have a say in how the Center is run. “As a Board member, Mr. Bledsoe will join a group of volunteers who focus on the future of the History Center and our shared vision of a world where people use history to create connections and take action,” said Clements. Board members work together in committees to consider what steps the History Center can take to bring Andover closer to that vision, as well as how they can use their resources, such as people, building, and funding, to accomplish said steps.

Bledsoe has been an active participant in the Andover community for years. In addition to being a beloved member of the AHS staff, he has been involved in the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program at UMass Lowell, where he works with international teachers to show them the U.S education system in Andover. He is also the chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee for the Andover Education Association teacher union and vice-chair of the Council on Aging Board for the Robb Center Andover Elder Services. Last, but not least, he has won the Black Excellence on the Hill Massachusetts State House Award. He earned this after delivering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech to the four corners of Massachusetts. It was this speech—among the many other community involvements—that drew the eye of the Andover Center for History and Culture.

“Mr. Bledsoe has also been an important part of a number of open mic nights that the History Center has co-hosted with the town’s DEI commission. We’ve talked about history and research projects,” said Clements. “Mr. Bledsoe’s passion for history is clear and we’re delighted that he will be bringing his passion and enthusiasm to the Board of the Directors and the History Center.”

“I love how things work and what you need to do to make something function, and essentially history is how we work now,” said Bledsoe. His fascination with history, combined with his attachment to Andover, culminated in his desire to join the Board of Governance for the Andover Center for History and Culture. “I love the town of Andover… I love history… [and] I love museums… so why not become involved with a museum for the town?” he said.

COURTESY PHOTO / Ralph Bledsoe
Ralph Bledsoe, a science teacher at AHS, is enthusiastic about his new position on the Town’s Historical Board.
Courtesy photo by Ralph Bledsoe

Andoverview

Students, Faculty Travel to Scandinavia Over Spring Break

June 11, 2026

Samin Faiz || STAFF WRITER

Forty-two Andover High School students and seven chaperones visited Scandinavia this April.

After a six-hour flight from Boston to Reykjavík, Iceland, followed by a two-hour flight to Oslo, Norway, the group began their ten-day-long tour the Thursday before spring break. Through a combination of bus rides, overnight ferries, and countless miles on foot, the group made their way through five Northern European countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia.

“I’ve been traveling with students since 2005, so this might be my 17th tour,” said Brian Shea, English teacher, organizer, and chaperone of the trip. “We’ve now done all of Europe, so Northern Europe was sort of our last frontier.”

Apart from the chaperones, the group was accompanied by a tour director named Yulia, whom Shea worked closely with to structure the daily itinerary and ensure a smooth trip.

In Scandinavia, English is widely spoken, so the language barrier was never a problem for the group. Sometimes, however, the students made connections in ways that transcend the spoken word.

“I played soccer with a bunch of people in Sweden,” recalled Hannah Arnold, a junior who participated in the trip. “That was probably the highlight of the trip for me.”

Arnold is no stranger to international travel. Just two months earlier, in fact, she joined her classmates on another school trip to Peru over winter break. However, for her twin sister, Grace Arnold, this was a brand-new experience.

“I met a lot of new people that I’ve never met before, especially people not in my grade,” Grace said. “It was really nice because I met a lot of great people through that and got to spend time with people I wouldn’t usually get to spend time with.”

The trip offered a flexible balance of group tours and independent exploration. “We had a lot of free time,” Grace noted. “We got to explore cities on our own and shop where we wanted. As long as you stayed in groups of three or more, you were free to roam the city.”

Students observed the region’s distinct economic models. Through agreements within the European Union and the Nordic Council, higher education is heavily subsidized or entirely free for regional citizens.

“It’s really interesting. They tax wealthier people a lot more and their overall tax rates are a lot higher,” one student observed. “The way they reinvest money back into infrastructure contributes to stronger public infrastructure. Education and health care are free, and they even offer stipends to cover the cost of living. Essentially, you pay a lot of taxes, but you get a lot in return.”

Students also noticed the societal impact of these safety nets. “Their unhoused population is significantly lower. If you want help, those systems are available to support you.”

The travelers’ curiosity and maturity left a strong impression on the faculty.

“These kids were wonderful,” said Shea. “All of the students were engaged. They were paying attention. They were enjoying it. They were wonderful travelers. To me, that was the biggest thrill.”

With the preparations for next year’s destinations already underway, the future of travel programs at AHS seems to be brimming with opportunities.

“Next year, we have two tours,” said Shea. “We’re running one tour to Barcelona and Madrid in February, and then we’re running another tour to Greece in April.”

Such opportunities are often highly selective at other schools, but luckily, these trips remain open to the entire student body at AHS.

“There’s no application process,” Shea emphasized. “We’re not looking at grades. We’re not looking at behavioral records. Anybody can sign up when we offer these tours. I put them out there, and I’m like, ‘If you want to go, come.’”

AHS Class of 2026 Graduation: A Sentiment of Gratitude

June 11, 2026

Abby Chachus & Kendall Murphy || STAFF WRITERS

A hush falls as a sea of navy gowns, a rising tide of Andover High School graduates enters the Tsongas Center just before 5 o’clock on June 1, 2026. There is something distinct about moments like these. A goodbye that is bittersweet among both the audience and the seniors.

According to Graduation Committee member Ella Murphy, it is a goodbye to “Halloween costume competitions that never disappoint, lunches, wrap lines and vending machine trips,” seemingly inconsequential things, but the memories will stick with all of the students as they move on to their future endeavors.

The graduation speakers shared the value of these moments and their gratitude for the people that helped them along the way. As the ceremony commenced, the opening speakers Zachery Pan and Murphy welcomed everyone and encouraged them to acknowledge their shared experiences at Andover High School. “These moments, these memories, these faces. None of us got here alone.” said Pan.

Their speech gave time to deliver some truly meaningful thank you’s, “beyond the formalities” as Murphy put it, to the teachers and staff that showed up each day with “patience, support, and dedication.” Furthermore, they recognized that this gratitude is not solely meant for the significant ceremonies.

“Gratitude is kind of strange. We tend to save it for the big moments. The ceremonies, the stages, the audiences,” said Murphy.

“But let’s be honest—the people who actually changed your life probably weren’t standing on a stage when they did it,” continued Pan.

They concluded the speech with a request to the graduates to thank those who changed their lives in both the big and small moments, even if it feels unnecessary.

Before graduation, other seniors expressed similar thoughts, like reflecting on the journey that got them to where they are today.

“To all my teachers: thank you for everything. I would not be here without any single one of you.” said Christopher Reardon.

Thomas Enman advised underclassmen to “just enjoy every little minute you get at AHS.”

Vignesha Jayakumar, class essayist and valedictorian, echoed this same sentiment of appreciation, reinforcing Reardon’s message about the lasting impact of teachers and support systems. “We were galvanized from a community of supportive teachers and staff who didn’t just teach us subjects, they taught us how to think, how to question, how to care,” said Jayakumar.

He also mentioned the importance of one learning from their fellow graduates. “We learned as much from each other in the hallways and the bleachers as we did in the classroom,” he said.

After Jayakumar, Graduation Committee members Ben Pelt and Kari Belson spoke. First, Pelt announced the Class of 2026’s class gift to AHS. Next, Belson named Scott Armstrong the 2026 Distinguished Citizen (see page 4).

When Principal Jimmy D’Andrea took the stage, he, like all the other speakers, expressed the value of gratitude, a central theme that resonated throughout the ceremony. He began by thanking each group that got each member of the graduating class to where they were standing in the Tsongas Center, about to leave the comfort of being an AHS student and moving onto becoming alumni, highlighting the strong support system and sense of community that defined the graduating class’s journey.

He also encouraged each graduate to “personally reach out and thank those individuals who made a difference in [their] lives,” reinforcing the ceremony’s message of appreciation, reflection, and recognition for the people who helped shape their high school experience.

Interim Superintendent Keith Taverna encouraged graduates to continue to make the community proud with the positive impact they will bring to the world.

To conclude the ceremony, Graduation Committee members Chloe Ahn and Margaret Farabaugh brought everyone together one last time. “Tonight we stand together because of the strong and spirited community we have built,” said Ahn.

Ahn concluded, “As we become graduates of Andover High School, we step into the world with purpose, passion, and pride… Congratulations class of 2026!”

AHS NEWSPAPER

Or check our Popular Categories...

AHS NEWSPAPER

Or check our Popular Categories...

Bledsoe on the Board of Governance for Andover Center for History and Culture

Like this: