After ten years of teaching at Aragon, Economics and Government teacher Dr. Frederick Chancellor will retire at the end of this school year.
Chancellor began his career in teaching before he came to Aragon. “I started my career as a teacher years ago. I worked in an institution for juvenile delinquents for eight years. Then I got my master’s degree in counseling. I was a counselor for a year, became the assistant principal and then the principal, and then eventually I went back to school to get my doctorate. After two years of school to get my PhD, I was recruited to come out here. I’ve been at Aragon for ten years now.”
Although he had previously taught biology, when asked to return to teaching, Chancellor specified that biology would not be one of his classes. “I hadn’t been working in biology in a long time, and it wouldn’t have been fair for the students and [for me] to try and go back to biology at that time. I told the people who were interviewing me that I would not try to teach biology. I had done some research on what was being taught, and I wasn’t going to try to cheat the students by faking it. They deserve to get the very best.”
Chancellor’s teaching style emphasizes the importance of respect in the classroom. Senior Nathaniel Marsden says, “Chancellor makes it so that his class is one to remember. Even if it’s not your favorite stuff to study, you learn a lot, sometimes not even about the course. Chancellor tries to teach respect to his students so he makes sure all his seniors turn into respectable adults once we get to the ‘real world.’”
Junior Nicholas Zier says, “Being a T.A. for a teacher that I’ve never had, let alone a class that I haven’t taken, is a really interesting experience. It helps me learn about what I might have to do in future years. Chancellor has definitely helped me in that aspect; he usually talks to me about what’s going on in the class and keeps me in the loop. He seems to create good relationships with his students, and I can tell most students respect him and his role at the school.”
Chancellor’s decision to retire was influenced by his desire to be closer to his family. “My wife has multiple sclerosis, and I want to be able to do things with my wife while she can still walk and enjoy things, vacations and things like that. That’s what is prompting this change. I also have five grandchildren I intend to spoil thoroughly,” says Chancellor.
AP Psychology teacher Giancarlo Corti and a new hire will take over Chancellor’s classes next year.
Corti comments, “It’s going to be fun to go back to [teaching government and economics]
through a different lense. I haven’t really thought about teaching that class with the knowledge I’ve gained in psychology. I look forward to going back to the fun of economics, which for me is due to the great opportunity for simulations. I really like teaching econ, so I look forward to getting back to it.”
Yet some believe Chancellor’s presence on campus may be irreplaceable. Senior Colin Harrington says, “Going through Chancellor’s class is like a rite of passage. You hear about this man all four years, but you don’t get to experience the class until your senior year.”
Chancellor comments on the future of Aragon’s government and economics classes without him, saying, “I don’t know what is expected to change. I haven’t been a part of that change, and I don’t think that would be appropriate for me. I’m leaving, and I should not have anything to do with what they’re going to do with this class.”
Chancellor adds, “I do know, however, that I have enjoyed thoroughly being here, I have enjoyed every class and I still look forward each morning to come in here and teach. It’s a privilege to teach here.”
