Teacher Feature on Mr. Chalfant
Teacher Feature on Mr. Chalfant
At which school in the district do you teach?
Stroudsburg High School.
What subject(s) do you teach?
Mathematics (Algebra & Calculus)
What grade(s) do you teach?
Grades 10-12.
How long have you been teaching in Stroudsburg?
I’ve been teaching in Stroudsburg for 2 years.
Is there anything you wish you’d known as a first year teacher?
As a first year teacher, I wish I would have known that you can’t blame yourself for not helping every single student to succeed. As hard as it is to convince yourself of this, there are students that you just can’t convince to work hard in school, and that’s okay. It’s the old adage that “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” Even if you do everything you can to help your kids, there will almost always be a few that you can’t get to, and that’s okay.
Why do you enjoy teaching?
I enjoy teaching because I like encouraging my students to be the best people they can be; there are few things I enjoy more than seeing them grow as learners and as people, and seeing them succeed outside the classroom. I believe that teaching is about much more than teaching the student — it’s about teaching to the whole person, and I think the most valuable lessons I can teach are not about the math.
What college did you attend?
I earned both my Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, and my Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education from Boston University.
What is the best advice you have for your students?
My biggest piece of advice to every student is to focus on more than just school while you’re here. This goes to the kids that care too much about their grades, and even those who should maybe care a little more. Even if you’re going to college, it is never worth sacrificing your mental health, friendships, or relationships to get good grades. There are so many more important things to focus on than grades while you’re in school, and those are the things that will matter after you graduate.
