Now entering his twelfth year at Potomac, Mr. Scharf has served in a variety of positions. He spent his first ten years teaching in the Intermediate School before moving to the Upper School to teach chemistry. After his first year there, he was selected as the tenth-grade dean, a role he continues to hold.
Day to day, Mr. Scharf takes on a wide range of responsibilities. From making sure students arrive at school on time to coaching advisors, each day is different. As he humbly put it, he is “a kind of the glue that holds all the disparate pieces together.” Overall, he strives to ensure that tenth graders build upon the skills they learned in ninth grade, and are prepared for eleventh grade.
Known for delivering justice when least expected, Mr. Scharf admitted he finds satisfaction in “administering Righteous Justice,” otherwise known as writing students up. Though said in jest, he firmly believes structure and accountability go a long way.
Another description that has accompanied his new role is the tendency for his self-proclaimed “short” meetings to run longer than expected. When asked about the allegations that he often exceeds his promised timeframes, he stated that “short” is not a strictly quantitative description that he can be held to. However, after being reminded of an “eight-minute class meeting” he announced, which was timed by a student and ran well beyond the original duration, he modeled accountability and conceded, saying to the Class of 2028, “I will do better.”
While much of his time is dedicated to his role as dean, Mr. Scharf shared a more personal side from beyond the office. He referred to Notting Hill as “the best rom-com of all time,” has logged 112 hours playing Elden Ring (a fantasy video game where players defeat demigods, which he says has some similarities to being a 10th grade dean), and enjoys the tradition of wearing the same shirt on Picture Day every year. Furthermore, he enjoys when students allow him to indulge in stories about the well in his backyard and being asked “really great philosophical questions” such as, “What kind of potato are you today?” The answer, according to him, is a baked potato, because potatoes in the ground are “the saddest of all.”
The job of a tenth-grade dean doesn’t come without minor pushback, however. Almost every day, Mr. Scharf deals with a recurring issue: dress code. The rule is frequently disregarded by a handful of students, which gets Mr. Scharf’s “dander up in a tizzy.” From his perspective, the dress code embodies more than just what students can and can’t wear. Though Mr. Scharf acknowledges that “the rule may not make sense to students individually,” he argues that the rule “makes sense to the community as a whole.” At times, students may view seemingly annoying policies such as dress code or lunch clean-up as meaningless, Mr. Scharf claims violations of said policies communicate a bigger picture. “As infractions build up, it tells other students that we don’t really care about the rules, and thus the community,” Mr. Scharf said. He believes this creates a cycle that could lead to a fractured community.
Mr. Scharf’s philosophy surrounding individual responsibility stems from his seven years spent in the United States Navy, during which he served as a naval officer on a submarine. While on the submarine, he learned that every member of the crew had to contribute in order for the group to function. Their crew relied on a system in which no one was above doing work, regardless of rank. His naval experience has influenced his approach to discipline and leadership, emphasizing the idea that every action impacts the broader community. He brings this structure into his role as dean, reminding every student that “it’s a small ship, and we’ve all got to pull together to make it work.”
Despite occasional differences in perspective with his students, Mr. Scharf remains grateful for his role. When reflecting on the most rewarding part of his job, he pointed to the students. To him, the best part is “just getting to know you guys” and staying connected through conversations, visits, and laughter. He holds a “special place in his heart” for the Class of 2028 and “salutes them” for being his first class as dean.
Thank you to Mr. Scharf for being the glue that holds the sophomore class together!
