By Alice Phillips

Middle school science teacher and Admission Associate John Kim will replace Rod Huston as a middle school dean for the class of 2014.

“Huston’s shoes will be hard to fill but I look forward to working closely with Kim,” Head of the Middle School Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau said.

Kim has taught science, coached water polo, and worked with the Admissions office in his 11 years at Harvard-Westlake. He will assume his dean responsibilities at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

Nicholas Edel ’13, one of Kim’s biology students, said that Kim is “really good at interacting with kids” and that his accessible teaching style will likely augment his abilities as a dean.

“I’m really fond of this year’s eighth grade and I’m looking forward to working with them,” Kim said. “I want to be an advocate for the students.”

“John brings to the position a deep reservoir of energy and enthusiasm and expertise,” Head of School Jeanne Huybrechts said in a statement to the school announcing Huston’s departure.

Cazeau said that Kim’s role in the Admissions Office has increased his administrative role in the community.

“We look for someone who has already shown leadership in their teaching, in their dealings with students and parents, and in their willingness to volunteer to take on new tasks within the school,” Cazeau said.

Huston sustained a head injury on the Mammoth Ski Trip during semester break, and although he has fully recovered he has decided that this is a good time to move on to a new phase of his life, Huybrechts said.

“[Huston] was devoted to his student and to Harvard-Westlake. To quote a colleague, ‘Rod bled red and black,” Huybrechts said in the statement.

Huybrechts said that Huston may pursue a graduate degree or another full-time teaching position in the future.