After 41 years of dedicated service to Germantown Academy as a science teacher, coach, mentor and leader, Mr. Phil Rittenhouse has made the decision to retire this June.
Science has long been an essential part of the GA Upper School curriculum, where students explore how the natural world functions through real-life examples and scenarios. This approach not only reinforces scientific concepts but also encourages curiosity, critical thinking and a deeper appreciation for the role of science in everyday life—something Mr. Rittenhouse embodied during his time at GA.
“When I was first teaching as a young teacher, I thought the most important thing I could do was just disseminate information,” Mr. Rittenhouse said. “Unless you are going to major in that field, you are not going to remember 80% of what you learned. That’s why I went from disseminating information to getting my students to know more about the power of science, the process of science and how to think and learn.”
Mr. Rittenhouse began his career as a part-time science educator at the McDonogh School, a part-boarding school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was there that he fell in love with teaching science and working with students.
“I really love having discussions with the kids in class,” Mr. Rittenhouse said. “A lot of classes about science, biology and life are just about learning. That’s probably been my highlight.”
After four years at McDonogh, Mr. Rittenhouse and his family made the decision to move to Pennsylvania. In 1984, he was hired as a science teacher at Germantown Academy, where he would remain for the next 41 years.
“To be honest, I came to GA because I was looking for a teaching job close to where I grew up,” Mr. Rittenhouse said. “We did not have family members in Maryland, so we moved back, mostly because we wanted to be close with our family.”
At GA, Mr. Rittenhouse immediately became deeply rooted in the community through a variety of roles. Over the course of his career, he taught numerous science courses, including biology, natural history, ecology, botany, physical science and his personal favorite—environmental science.
“I think I like environmental science because not only does it combine all the sciences, but there’s a lot of critical thinking that goes into how we can solve the problems we’ve created,” Mr. Rittenhouse said. “So, it lends itself not only to understanding science, but also to problem solving.”
Beyond the classroom, Mr. Rittenhouse was also deeply involved in GA athletics, coaching basketball, tennis and soccer for over 30 years.
“When I’m coaching, I’m not just coaching them on how to be good at the sport,” Mr. Rittenhouse said. “I’m teaching them how to work with teammates, how to improve what they do, and how to take pride in their performance and their growth.”
He also served in several leadership roles, including as director of the Montgomery County Science Research Competition and director of the Adventure Club. In the latter, he traveled with students on field trips and led activities to raise environmental awareness.
“We’ve done mountain biking,” Mr. Rittenhouse said. “We’ve gone kayaking and done all kinds of things—rock climbing, camping. I really did enjoy taking kids outside, into the outdoors, into the world, so that they could appreciate it.”
Mr. Rittenhouse’s distinguished career was celebrated by Head of School Mr. Rich Schellhas, who shared his appreciation in a message regarding the retirement:
“Phil has forever been the GA embodiment of independent in thought. What I love most about visiting Phil’s classes is his desire to make everyone love science as much as he does,” Mr. Schellhas said in a statement on Germantown Academy’s website.
In retirement, Mr. Rittenhouse hopes to visit the 48 national parks he hasn’t seen yet, read and write books, and most importantly, spend more time outdoors with his grandchildren.
“I’ll do science with them,” Mr. Rittenhouse said. “I’ll do basically what I do as a teacher on their level, so that they can appreciate the environment and the power of learning and knowledge.”
Mr. Rittenhouse’s retirement marks the end of 41 years of exceptional science education—years during which he not only taught science, but also inspired generations of students to be curious, think critically, and value the pursuit of knowledge. As he embarks on this next chapter, his legacy will continue to resonate throughout the GA community.