As the first hints of fall foliage begin to peek out from the trees, the new school year begins, bringing with it that familiar sense of anticipation, new routines, and the addition of several new faculty members. Among them is the new Upper School History Department Chair and faculty member Dr. Brinkerhoff.
Having taught a range of courses from ninth through twelfth grade, from AP courses to electives, Dr. Brinkerhoff leads the department with a broad understanding of students’ perspectives. This year, he teaches ninth-grade World Religions in History and AP Human Geography. As History Department Chair, he is committed to guiding student discourse and learning by observing how students engage in classroom discussions. He explained, “I work with teachers to help brainstorm lessons and curriculum,” so “it is really fun to go into classes to see all of the learning that’s happening.”
Another key focus is bringing historical material to life and helping students do something meaningful with it. He emphasizes the importance of going beyond the content alone and instead applying it in creative ways that simulate the work of real historians. Dr. Brinkerhoff shared, “Once acquiring the facts, what does it mean to make a historical argument…pose an open-ended question through discourse?” Understanding the material is one part, but Dr. Brinkerhoff hopes to help students put ideas into conversations to make a deeper meaning of the past.
Dr. Brinkerhoff had known about PDS long before joining the community, since his father and uncles attended the school when it was still Princeton Country Day. However, what truly drew him to PDS was its close-knit community and welcoming atmosphere, mentioning how “it is almost impossible to walk through the hallways without having somebody smile at you.”
In his free time, Dr. Brinkerhoff loves spending his Saturdays watching college sports—even flying out a couple of times a year to Vanderbilt, his alma mater, to watch the basketball and football games. He also enjoys going on walks and hikes with his wife and beagle, Gatsby.
The most exciting thing about being a teacher for Dr. Brinkerhoff is witnessing student growth. He remarked, “[There’s] passion for the content itself, but being able to play a part in growing a student’s knowledge and skill base is the most rewarding.” He also values getting to know students as complete individuals–not just the work they do in the classroom, but also the clubs and sports they do outside. He believes that PDS is “such a great place to really challenge yourself” and encourages students to “try new things beyond your comfort zone and explore your passions.” Whether Dr. Brinkerhoff is teaching history or chatting about college football, he always brings passion and enthusiasm, so the next time you see him, make sure to say “hi”!
