Photo by Dr.Frazier CC/BY
It is the end of the school year which means that we will soon have to say goodbye to a few of our favorite teachers. This year, 13 middle school teachers are leaving or moving out of the middle school. Over the final weeks of school, The Direct Message will post an ‘Exit Interview’ that we conducted with each of these educators.
Check out all the Exit Interviews by clicking here: Exit Interviews
Dr. Richard Frazier
Years at AES: 12 years
Next Stop: Missouri, Colorado, Washington, and more
What will you miss most about AES?
"Many things. The people: Students, faculty, staff. The trees, birds, butterflies. Teaching middle school science with rich experiences and ideas. Being in India--a place beyond compare."
What is the best part about being a teacher at AES?
"The chance to be a part of helping students become their best selves. Being colleagues with people of exemplary intelligence AND goodwill. Being a recipient of kindness and generosity from those who keep our wonderful school going."
What are your plans for next year and what are your thoughts about this next step?
"There are mixed emotions, for sure. This transition is a big one for us. We have had a wonderful life and feel so incredibly fortunate that our last working years have been at AES. We will be spending time with grandchildren, children, other family, and friends (old and new)--travel Missouri, Colorado, Washington, and more. We hope there will be opportunities for international trips--Sierra Leone (where we had been Peace Corps volunteers), Singapore, India--of course. Spending time outdoors--nature watching, bicycling, hiking, camping, canoeing. Volunteering--science / nature education for youth who seldom have the opportunities for such experience, environmental advocacy and action, social justice advocacy and action. "
How do you hope your students and colleagues will remember you?
"What I have always hoped is that students will see things they have never seen or noticed before, that questions will come to them that they have never considered before, that they will have new ideas and thoughts that never occured to them before. I hope students will experience wonder, awe, and curiosity, and in turn, will learn to "fall in love with the world." I wish students will learn to never be bored, that they will have good lives, and that they will do good things, and that they will be good and kind."
What message would you like to leave for the community at AES?
"A story of symbiosis is appropriate for a science teacher, so I would retell the coupled natural histories of the fig and the fig wasp, for example. Interconnection among all living things, interdependence that operates within levels and across scales, is a message for us all to contemplate and even to cherish."
What students had to say.
Cooper, Grade 7
What will you remember about this teacher?
Doctor Fraizer has a love of nature that I could really appreciate! I enjoyed talking about birds with him, as we both really liked birds. We got along really well.
What is a funny or memorable story that you have about this teacher?
When we were outside during the nature on the campus project, we were outside observing and I was standing with him by the rock gardens looking at a bird nest that he pointed out, I really enjoyed that and we had some good conversations out there.
What makes this teacher unique?
Doctor Fraizer really cares about what he teaches. He was really passionate about the nature unit and really excited for it. He's knowledgeable and engaged during the lessons, he's always excited.
Karitte, Grade 7
What will you remember about this teacher?
Dr. Frazier was a really nice teacher, he was always happy to answer your questions and give you a proper explanation.
What is a funny or memorable story that you have about this teacher?
I loved his tour for us of sunder nursery in the wow trip it was really detailed and nice.
What makes this teacher unique?
I will miss him.
Sofie, Grade 7
What will you remember about this teacher?
I will remember how good he is at teaching and how much he has thought me over the past year.
What is a funny or memorable story that you have about this teacher?
At WOW, he was really good at explaining the plants in a funny way.
What makes this teacher unique?
His personality and the way his mind works.