Faculty Spotlight: Mr. Camp

GABBY GUTMAN '08

Mr. Camp is an absolutely amazing teacher. Every day during the first and second terms I looked forward to his class. I always knew that it would lift my spirits if I had a bad day or create a memory that would last me a lifetime. When a test or quiz came up, I would never panic, but rather, I would be excited. Mr. Camp’s tests and quizzes were always fun to take whether he had us relate baseball positions to vocabulary words or draw Oedipus Rex solving the riddle of the sphinx. This English class has shown me that learning can be fun, even if I am learning something that is seems mundane like Sophocles or grammar. Mr. Camp has been one of the best teachers I have ever had, and I learned a lot more about him through this interview.

Q: What is your most embarrassing moment in your childhood?
A: I was really quiet as a kid and, actually, I am pretty quiet in my personal life. But when I teach, I am loud which is sort of weird. When I was young, I got spanked by my mom in front of a lot of people as she yelled, “Why don’t you talk to people?” That was a really embarrassing moment.

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Arlington, MA. I have an older brother and an older sister, so that makes me the baby of the family. We had no pets at all growing up, because my mom didn’t like them. Now I have two dogs, two cats, two birds, and I support all animal rights.

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?
A: My favorite places to be are at home with my family, in the classroom teaching, or on a football field coaching.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
A: I hate it when people litter their cigarette butts; it’s annoying and I don’t get it. I also don’t like having to deal with my own OCDs. I need to have my right foot in front of my left when I am standing still or tying my shoes. Also, almost everything I do is based on a number system even though I am a word kind of guy. I have an obsession with needing Neutrogena hand cream. My whole life is governed by OCDs that others may not notice, but that affect me constantly.

Q: What is your favorite type of food?
A: I love chicken. If I am celebrating, I would want Indian food, chicken Indian food. Oh yeah, and salt bagels. I also hate mushrooms and olives with a passion.

Q: What is your favorite and least favorite movie?
A: My favorite movies are: Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction, Jindabyne, Memento, and Fargo. I only want to see a movie if it’s going to change my life or leave me thinking; a movie that didn’t do that is Smooth Talk, which was a waste of two hours.

Q: Do you have any TV show addictions?
A: I love LOST, American Idol, Seinfeld, sports, news; those are like my OCDs—I love them and could watch them all the time. My son was laughing ‘cause I was watching an episode of Seinfeld, and when he saw me laugh he did the same. That was cool. My son Grady just turned one year old, and he has a little sister arriving in July. Yikes!

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: As an English teacher, obviously I have a lot, but O’Brien’s In the Lake of the Woods is really deep and dark, and I love dark literature. My favorite Shakespeare play is King Lear, the darkest of the dark!

Q: What do you admire most in your students?
A: I admire depth and the ability to understand that learning and fun can happen at the same time.

Q: Why did you start teaching?
A: I knew in high school. I loved English, and it is very cool when I realized I could spend every day doing it. I think I have the ideal life: every day I get to teach and coach, which is incredible. I also love to read students’ writing and to hear how they think; I enjoy being part of that process. I keep a list of every student I’ve ever taught and periodically go through the list so I remember everybody. So, in 20 years, I’ll be able to say, “Oh, Gabby Gutman, she was in my Black Class at Beaver.”

Q: Who was your favorite teacher?
A: In college, I had an amazing professor who was deep and analyzed a lot of things. I hope I am doing the same in my teaching. He made me realize then that you could take anything and look at it from all different angles, as long as you support what you say. And then you can have any analysis.

Q: Do you have a favorite word?
A: Perspicacity: very aware, intelligently aware. I really don’t like the phrase “shut up”.

Q: How do you like your experience at Beaver so far?
A: I love the format, what the school represents, the progressive aspect, and the students have been awesome. It has been an overall great experience. I’m sad about leaving, and I’m especially going to miss the students and the English department teachers.

Q: How does Beaver compare to the other schools you have taught at?
A: I came from teaching at an all-boys catholic school for 8 years and teaching at boarding school the four years before that. And this is the opposite end of the spectrum, but it’s great. Going from all boys to co-ed isn’t really different, but it is proven that boys will participate more if they are alone. I believe that, if you engage the class, everyone will participate.

Q: Do you have a tattoo?
A: I don’t have one, but if I were to get one it would be a hand holding a skull, which is a Hamlet reference. When Hamlet looks at the skull he contemplates the fact that one day we will all be reduced to skulls, it’s common in all of our humanity. During life when you are not a skull, you have to be good to the people around you, so that they will remember you and your impact on each other will be meaningful.

Q: What sports did you play growing up?
A: I was a three-sport athlete through high school. I played football, basketball, and baseball. I played football at Middlebury College.

Q: Are there any interesting facts about you that you would like to share?
A: Ummm…In high school I had a flat top. Everyday I would wash it, then blow dry it with gel, blow it again, and then use wax to make it stick up. Not quite the same these days. I love puppets and Broadway musicals especially Wicked, Hairspray, and Rent. I also once coached women’s football!

Q: What is the story behind the baseball bat you always carry around with you?
A: My First year teaching, I needed a prop for class because I was doing something with puppets. It turned out I had an old bat lying around my apartment that I had since I was 9 years old. After class I was walking with the bat in the halls, and everyone was questioning it. I realized that if you do something just a little differently everyone is obsessed with it and wants to know the story behind it. So, since that day, throughout 13 years of teaching, I have always had it with me. Carrying it with me represents teaching, family, and sports, the three most important things in my life.

Q: What is the story behind the website you have for all of your students?
A: I wanted to make a good way for my students to have access to information on my class. My wife, who was a pro figure skater, and did Disney on ice for 7 years, took a web course designing web pages. When she stopped touring, she made a site for me. I have no idea how to do it on my own; it was all her. All I do is input the info each day, which I think is helpful for everyone (especially when I put extra credit on it for quizzes or tests!).

Mr. Camp has left a lasting impression on numerous Beaver students. Just ask Jessica Penzias ’08, who said, “Mr. Camp is without a doubt one of the best teachers I have ever had. I have always loved literature but now I have an increased passion for the study of literature. He is not only invested in his lessons, but also, he has a great passion for inspiring and befriending his students. I am so grateful to have met him.” Sarah Mink ’08 eagerly added, “Mr. Camp embodies progressive education at its best. His love for Lost and his innovative methods have left a lasting impression on all of his students.”

If you have not had the great opportunity of having Mr. Camp as a teacher, I would highly suggest introducing yourself. Unfortunately, he will not be back at BCDS next year. He was recently offered a job at St. Mark’s high school where he will teach English and be the Head Coach of their football team. He has been a great asset to the Beaver community and will be missed by everyone when he leaves.


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Where are they now? - Mr. Lenci

TOPH TUCKER '08

Kent Lenci taught 6th Grade Humanities and 7th Grade History at Beaver for several years, in addition to briefly serving as Middle School Dean. He may have left four years ago, but his legacy lives on...

Mr. Lenci sends along this message:

"Anna Soybel's ceramic pig adorns my window sill at school (yes, I know that she, too, has moved on from the Beav), and Frankie Orangecapris (the attractive, orange rat) hangs from my bulletin board (I believe he was named by the [class of '07]). I teach seventh grade history and head the social studies department at Brookwood, which is a coed, pre-K through 8 school in Manchester, MA. To most in the Beaver community, it is old news that Jessica Stillman and I were married in July of 2006; to some it may not be.

"I think of you all often! Best wishes to the whole crowd."

As for anyone wondering about the whereabouts of everyone's favorite class bird, he says, "I fabricate my own enticing birdseed, which has lured Wheedle from whence he once perched outside my former classroom."

Don't worry, I bet he still visits now and then. :) Many thanks to Mr. Lenci for the update!
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Faculty Spotlight: Middle School Counselor Chris DeFilippo

EMILY BELOWICH '11

Chris DeFilippo, otherwise known as Ms. D, started her journey here at Beaver eight years ago, while she was attending the graduate school at Boston College. While working here as an intern, students often asked, “Are you coming back next year?” Though Ms. D. was hesitant to answer that question, something about the kids here at Beaver sparked her interests and she began working as a full-time middle school counselor the subsequent fall. She says that even now, after being here for nine years in total, her favorite part about teaching at Beaver is the “relationships with the students that build over time.”

Growing up, Ms. D. moved from place to place. She lived with her younger brother, John, her younger sister, Mary, and her parents, Ann and Gene. Though she was born in Ohio, she also lived in Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and then finally settling in Massachusetts. She attended Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky and moved her senior year and attended Radnor High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Her favorite thing to do was to play basketball, and in her senior year she was recruited to play Division I basketball at Villanova University. Though basketball was a huge part of her teenage life, she also enjoyed being with her friends.

I was very curious to know what incited Ms. D’s interest in counseling. In an interview with her, she mentioned that moving from place to place was very hard for her, especially transitioning so quickly and making new friends. However, she noted that the teachers at the school, in particular one teacher, made the transition a lot easier for her. She noted that this one teacher always came to her basketball games, and always encouraged her to make new friends. She quickly learned from this experience that she wanted to be that person for other kids, that role model, that guide they could go to, and she also learned that she actually did enjoy being in a school setting.

Ms. D’s favorite foods are pizza and hamburgers, and she enjoys listening to all kinds of music including R&B. Her favorite television shows are Grey’s Anatomy, ESPN Sports Center, and The Hills. Her favorite movies include Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, ET, and all of the Tyler Perry movies. One thing that you may not know about Ms. D. is her love for the song “One Shining Moment.” This song is the written by David Barrett about the Men’s College Basketball Championship. It is played every year at the end of the championship game. She says, “Every year, I wait up until the end of the game to hear this song, and every single year, I cry.” This inspirational song is played while the winning team’s players cut down the nets, and while they feature highlights throughout the NCAA tournament.
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Faculty Spotlight: Mr. Lieser

JEHANE SAMAHA '09

This is the first installment of the “Faculty Spotlight” column. The main idea behind this column is to highlight teachers and other faculty members whom you may not know too much about, beginning with a lot of the new faculty. Along with some insight into their lives, you might get some fun facts to tease your teachers about, too.

Michael Lieser is a new upper school English teacher at Beaver, and the advisor for this newspaper. Because of this, he was a prime target for our first interview. I sat down to talk with Mr. Lieser on the blue couch of the English Office, and here’s what I learned:

Mr. Lieser just moved to Boston from the San Francisco Bay area in California. He had lived there for five years, but now he has relocated to Jamaica Plain. As he says, “It was a lot of fun to be out there, but I feel like New England is more home than anywhere else.” He particularly enjoys the atmosphere in JP; “It’s a lot friendlier and more diverse than I thought Boston would be.”

As a child, he moved around a lot, living in the south, the Midwest, and then attending high school and college in Maine. “When people ask me where home is, that’s a pretty complicated question,” says Mr. Lieser. In Maine, he went to John Bapst Memorial High School and Bowdoin College. In college, Mr. Lieser was acquainted with Beaver History teacher Ms. Melvoin, who played Rugby there.

When I asked him how he would describe his former high-school self, he depicted himself as a good, responsible student, but one who suffered from “a big head” late in his senior year. He says, “When I look back on it now, it was sort of the big fish in a small pond syndrome. But then, when I got to college, and I was around a lot of people who were much smarter than I was… I was kind of cut back down to size.”



(At left: Mr. Lieser's high school photo.)

In high school, he didn’t enjoy calculus; however, his goal was to become a doctor. In fact, he missed so many calculus classes his senior year that his teacher threatened to keep him from graduating. He made it through a lot of college pre-med requirements, but then realized that what he really enjoyed were “the humanities and English.”

One of Mr. Lieser’s hobbies is skiing. Currently, he only skis recreationally, but in high school he did Sugarloaf and the New England race circuit, and then skied in college. He says, “It’s always something I’ve been passionate about… there’s been some talk about organizing some ski trips this year at Beaver. We’ll see if we can put together some student groups and head up on a weekend, maybe get some good snow.”

He has just finished his Master’s Degree at Middlebury College’s Breadloaf School of English. He describes this program as “A Master’s program that’s kind of like a summer camp for English teachers.” For his thesis, one major source that he analyzed was the movie “The Big Lebowski.” He says, “People often think, ‘oh, that’s just a silly stoner movie’ but what they don’t recognize is all the intricacies that it has.”

He has no pets, and he isn’t married. However, his parents, who live in Maine, have a yellow lab. Mr. Lieser has no tattoos (or so he claims). The fun fact that he shares with his students on the first day of class is that he really likes York Peppermint Patties, and his favorite part is the sound that they make when they are broken open. He says the sound is “soft and subtle.” He just turned 29 this past September, but don’t wish him a happy birthday next year; he wants that milestone to slip by unnoticed.
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