The History of Peter Fossett `80

“Peter came from the Upper School as a history teacher to this seat, and he might be the best I've seen in my years here. He speaks authentically and is incredibly committed to the work and the school.” – Louise Vaughan, Director of Advancement  

This feedback is no surprise to anyone who knows Peter Fossett `80. While he recently took on the role of associate director of alumni and legacy giving, he is a familiar face on campus. He was a student from 8th grade through senior year and joined the faculty in 2000. He taught American history and government for 22 years and was a Country Day parent along the way.  
 
“The stars aligned,” says Fossett. “Teaching was the best job I’ve had so far in terms of workplace satisfaction, but after more than two decades I was ready for a change – though I was not ready to leave this community. There were some changes in the Advancement Office, and I started thinking it could be a good way for me to continue working for a place that has been part of my life for such a long time and that is so important to me.” 
 
Peter says he is especially excited about the position because of the timing in the school’s history.  
 
“Our upcoming centennial will be an important celebration in its own right, but I saw this as an opportunity to help the school build the strong foundation that will be needed for a second century of excellence. I would rather keep working for Country Day, promoting the interests of the school, and keeping it the exceptional place it was for me and my children than take a job somewhere else.” 
 
While some may have heard Peter joke about being in the Federal Witness Protection Program, the truth is that he really did graduate from Country Day, attended Colgate University and Harvard Law School, and did a stint as a lawyer. He even ran for Congress in 2005 after Rob Portman `74 left his seat to become the US Trade Representative under President George W. Bush. “Part of the reason I ran was to give the students in my American government class the chance to run a campaign, though I did genuinely want the job.” 
 
Despite the loss, he remained interested in the philosophy of government.  
 
“I have always been interested in how the government should be structured; how it should operate; what rules it should impose on us. I thrived studying political science, although the first grade I got at Colgate was an F+ on a short paper. I distinctly remember going back to my college roommates and saying, ‘There goes Harvard Law School!’ But I worked hard and ultimately got an A- in the class. It was a display of that resiliency and work ethic that I learned at Country Day. As a student, I learned how to talk with teachers about challenges I was facing; I learned to do extended and independent work; I learned how to think. My experience as a Country Day student sparked my interest in being a lifelong learner.” 
 
Peter came to teaching after finding his work as a lawyer unsatisfying.  
 
“In 1999, I remember thinking about what I should do next. I had always been happiest as a student but I couldn't make a living that way so the next best thing was to become a teacher and be on the other side of the desk. I thought about teaching law school, but the schools I talked with made it clear they were interested in people who would research and publish. I didn't want to do that; I wanted to be in the classroom.” 
 
He attended Xavier University, taking classes toward a master’s degree in teaching, and he began substitute teaching at Country Day.  
 
“A part-time position opened and Merle Black [Upper School teacher] called me to see if I would be interested. That is how I got my foot in the door. The rest is, as they say, history…well, it was all history.” 

Peter serves on the planning commission for the City of Montgomery and still harbors an interest in elected office – though he considers a run for the Ohio General Assembly more likely than another run for Congress. It seems like the opening line of his senior profile in the 1980 Archive remains true: “…Peter will always argue with anyone about politics.”