By Rachel DeChiara ’12, Arts & Entertainment Editor

After twenty-five years as Department Chair, Mr. Jacoby has passed the torch to Ms. Brodie. With decades of practice and time in the position, he offers a world of wisdom and experience.

Mr. Jacoby remembers how he felt when he started as Chairyears ago. “I was excited to serve in a more administrative post and have access to the direction of the school,” he recalled.  As Department Chair, he oversaw the art department’s move to the new arts wing, and was responsible for hiring many of the current faculty we know and love. When discussing the art center, completed in 1992,Mr. Jacoby passionately explained that the project was a physical manifestation of NA’s  artistic philosophy.  “The arts are a really integral part in educating a child,” he said.  “And they really are part of who we are as a school, part of the culture, the ethos.” In regards to faculty, Mr. Jacoby proudly remarked they have “elevated the importance of the arts at Newark Academy. They’ve made the arts come alive at school.” He also accredited Mr. Parlin and Mr. Rollenhagen for their help in the hiring process.

It’s evident that Mr. Jacoby’s time as Department Chair brought about  significant change in the program itself. Mr. Jacoby articulated that as department chair, he felt a great deal of responsibility for his coworkers. “I was the director,” he explained (not surprisingly with a theatre analogy), “I had a whole cast that I was responsible for.” He is excited that he can “go back to being an actor” for the first time in twenty-five years. He felt it was time for a “new voice for the department.”

In regard to that new voice, Mr. Jacoby has overwhelming confidence in Ms. Brodie. “She is extremely capable; she’s going to do a terrific job. She’s got all the right instincts for it. She’s just ready to do it.” The transition between chairs has been smooth and stable. Mr. Jacoby explained that, though he was the chair, “the department is so collegial, that there was never really a terrible  hierarchy. There was never a sense that [he] was the only one available to give advice.”

Moving forward, Mr. Jacoby has acquired a section of Theory of Knowledge 1. A complete departure from what he’s previously taught, Mr. Jacoby explained that when he first was approached about the position, he thought, “Oh my goodness, how could I possibly teach this course?” However, he accepted the offer. “I thought it was the right opportunity,” he said. “It was really exciting to try something completely out of my comfort zone.” After meeting regularly with Mr. Vinikoor, Mr. Jacoby knows that teaching ToK is a challenge he can meet. He offered an overall lesson on the topic: “At all points in your career, it makes really good sense to challenge yourself, to try something really new even if you’re not guaranteed success.”

Though he’s no longer department chair, Mr. Jacoby claims that he “is not going to go shyly.” He will continue to attend arts events without fail. The Arts Department is a program that he cares deeply about, and “always will.” It’s comforting that, though Mr. Jacoby is no longer the chair, he will continue to be a vital part of our Arts program and of our school.