A man with a self-described “glorious” bald spot passionately critiques the school lunch menu for its conflicting culinary theming, genuinely aghast why General Tso’s Chicken is in the same room as pizza: Whit Tenent ’00.
This year, Tenent, aside from his permanent position as menu analyst, has assumed the roles of assistant academic dean and academic support coordinator of the Upper School. As a former teacher of Ancient and Medieval History 8 in the Lower School, Tenent brings with him a wealth of experience and passion in helping students succeed.
Ted Fockler ’10, fellow Lower School history teacher, upon being asked about his experience with working with Tenent, said, “[Tenent] is the ultimate bulldog; in that he will fight tooth and nail for his kids. He cares a great deal about not just MUS but specifically MUS students.”
Tenent describes working at MUS as his “dream job.” After graduating from Lynchburg College (now the University of Lynchburg) with a degree in both history and English, Tenent originally pursued a career at a law school before quickly realizing that it wasn’t for him. His first job out of college was at White Station High School, where he coached lacrosse and taught US history and government. Since then, Tenent caught “the teaching bug” and has found teaching and coaching kids to be extremely enjoyable. Former headmaster Ellis Haguewood eventually reached out to Tenent for a teaching job at MUS. Having remained a teacher at MUS for two decades, Tenent’s shift from a teacher to Academic Support Coordinator came as a surprise for most of the student body.
However, for Tenent himself, the transition was obvious. He views his new roles as “stepping into a bigger classroom” instead of a separate job. He further explains how his experiences teaching and coaching prepared him for his new positions:
“As a teacher, I have always sought to engage my students in their study habits and preparation for their classes. I have always gone out of my way to ensure that if a student needs help, I can, in some way shape or form, provide guidance. Often, as a coach, I seek to guide my players to the proper habits that will help improve their game and ultimately improve the experience. Whether it is proper throwing technique or proper communication, I am always seeking to help the players reach their fullest potential. This is what [my] new job really entails [:] [h]elping support and guide students to reach their fullest potential in the classroom.”
In addition to his accomplishments as an instructor, Tenent was heavily involved in both MUS and Lynchburg College. At MUS, Tenent played lacrosse, wrote articles for the Owl’s Hoot, supported the student body through the Student Council and worked on the school yearbook, overseeing the senior section his senior year. As an undergraduate, Tenent received many accolades, including induction into the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the National Leadership Society; becoming a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) All-Academic Team in both 2003 and 2004; and receiving the David Zimmer Team Spirit Award in 2001.
When it comes to managing the rigor of MUS, Tenent leaves this advice: “Take it one day at a time, and . . . take pride in the work [you] do.”
