By Danny Egan • Staff Reporter

Dr. John Sidorowich

Dr. John Sidorowich is a new faculty member at South Kent School school this year. He is known to the students as “Dr. Sid.” He is a math teacher, assistant cross country coach, and a Bringhurst Dorm parent.

Dr. Sid was born in Flemington, NJ, and attended Hunterdon Central High School. While in high school, he built an atom smasher also known as particle accelerator. A particle accelerator accelerates sub-atomic particles so they can be smashed into other atoms, or breaks atoms into smaller objects.

“I am a professional nerd,” said Dr. Sid.

After high school, he moved to California and attended the California Institute of Technology. After attending Cal Tech, he went to graduate school at the University of California Santa Cruz, where he got his Ph.D. in Physics.

After graduating from school, Dr. Sid stayed in California and worked as  a research scientist for 30 years. He assisted in the design of equipment that made semi conductors.

“I was a professional nerd for 30 years,” said Dr. Sidorowich.

After being a research scientist for so long, he wanted to do something different and returned to the East Coast to be closer to his family that still resides in New Jersey.

“I had a 30-year summer and it was time to return home,” Dr. Sid said.

Upon returning home, Dr. Sid heard about South Kent School and applied to be a math teacher.

Dr. Sid has three main goals this year. Like most teachers, his main goal is to better prepare his students for college and give them a small taste of it while still being in high school. He would also like to help the South Kent Cross Country team win another championship. Lastly, he would like to be able to be Mr. Chavka’s assistant golf coach.

Dr. Sid’s favorite movie is “2001: Stanley Coopers Space Odyssey.” Although close cropped now, Dr. Sidorowich said that it had been 25 years since he cut his hair before coming to South Kent School.