Academic Hub Opens Its Doors to Students
An exciting new chapter has launched for Canterbury School with the opening of the Academic Hub, a versatile space in Robert M. Steele ’72 Hall that is the focal point of our academic programs.
The space includes an expansion of the Donovan Center for Learning (DCL) to double its size, a new and larger space in the Keefe Center for College Counseling, a brand-new Teaching Commons area, and renovations to the David C. Copley ’70 Library.
The facility provides a vital central gathering place for students to access the resources and support they need. “With the opening of this new academic space, we are not just unlocking doors—we are creating a hub for collaboration and a renewed dedication to excellence in learning,” said Interim Head of School Sue Roberts P ’24, ’27. “The Academic Hub perfectly embodies Canterbury’s mission to partner rigorous academic work and unwavering support for our students. This synergy creates a balanced environment where ambition meets opportunity, and every challenge is met with the strength of community support, fostering intellectual growth.”
The extraordinary success of the DCL since it opened in 2017 was a major impetus for establishing the Hub. Director Alison Bailey is thrilled to see students taking advantage of its larger footprint. “The additional space gives our students more flexibility,” she shared. “We have so many different areas they can use throughout the academic day—spaces where they can have quiet time to study, work together with peers, receive one-on-one extra help, hunker down with a test, or even just kick back and take a deep breath. Students feel valued when they come to the DCL.”
Director of College Counseling Sarah Ferland is equally enthusiastic about what the Academic Hub means for students during their college preparation. “The close proximity of college counseling and the DCL is ideal. It is exciting to see students engage with both areas right here in the Hub as we work to match their academic plan with their college placement goals,” Sarah said. “And everyone loves the dedicated space in the Keefe Center for College Workgroup, our distinctive program that each week helps guide students through the college application process.”
The Teaching Commons is an excellent setting for faculty to collaborate and advance their knowledge and skills. The Commons will host faculty mentoring onboarding classes, retreat days throughout the year, and evening roundtable discussions on various topics. It also provides an optimal setting for faculty webinars, professional development sessions, and a host of other activities, according to Director of Curriculum Kelli Darrin P ’26, ’27.
“The Teaching Commons is intentionally designed to have both a workroom and lounge feel. It offers plenty of teacher resources such as independent school magazines and educational books,” Kelli said. “Faculty members have already been using it in a number of ways. For example, Rob (Director of Academic Technology and Innovation and Digital Communication, Design, and Innovation Chair Robert Roffe P ’12, ’15) has set up tech drop-in times there to work with faculty on programs like Veracross, Google Classroom, or Flint K12, the AI software we have been using. Education departments have held meetings in the Commons. It is an invaluable workspace for teachers to grade papers, map out lesson plans, learn, consult with each other, and take a moment to relax.”
At the epicenter of the Hub is the renovated Copley Library, a fully accessible research space where students can complement their DCL support with resources and guidance from library staff on a variety of projects, including AI-generative materials, digital and information literacy, written reports, and class assignments.
The Academic Hub is also a terrific showcase for campus visitors—prospective students and their families, college representatives, or alumni returning to campus—to see firsthand the tremendous breadth and excellence of a Canterbury education.
“Bringing all of the adults in academics together in one location was a great strategic move by the School,” Alison added. “It is enormously beneficial for our students to have access to so many different perspectives and support all in one place. It is a one-stop shop for them!”