August 10, 2021
Academy mourns passing of K. Kelly Wise P’80, ’83, ’86, GP’21
Former English department chair, dean of faculty, and IRT founder was 88
Longtime former English instructor and IRT founder K. Kelly Wise P’80, ’83, ’86, GP’21, died Friday, August 6, 2021. He was 88.
In 1966, Wise and his family arrived at Phillips Academy, where Kelly created a filmmaking course in addition to teaching English, dorm duties, and coaching. He created the school’s first residential cluster, was chair of the English department, and later became dean of faculty, making it his purpose to recruit and hire more teachers with diverse backgrounds.
Beyond his talent and commitment as a classroom instructor, Kelly saw education as needing a shift to reflect the reality of public and private education. He was deeply concerned about the lack of diversity in the country’s teaching faculties and became the creator and driving force behind Andover’s Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) in 1990. He served as executive director until 2013.
Burial will be private. A Celebration of Life will be planned for later this year.
Donations in Kelly Wise’s memory can be made to his cherished program, the IRT.
The IRT
Phillips Academy
180 Main St.
Andover, MA 01810
Categories: Academics
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The annual award honors alumni for making “positive impact on diverse peoples and places, society, and world”
