“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less,” scientist Marie Curie said.
Teacher Brian Elston exemplifies Marie Curie’s ideas about the importance of curiosity and understanding, as he educates AP Biology and DC Anatomy students and prepares them for the rigor of college STEM courses.
Mr. Elston’s driving force when choosing a career was to be able to help people. In order to fulfill this goal, he recognized that his most valuable place would be teaching the world’s future nurses, doctors and surgeons.
“I went to college for Biology with the hope of going into medicine,” Mr. Elston said. “Once I realized I did not like that, I decided to be a teacher. Teaching gave me the opportunity to help people, which was always my goal.”
Students enjoy Mr. Elston’s focus on making lectures digestible for them. Students appreciate the dynamic nature of his lessons, allowing them to properly focus and absorb the information they are given.
“I love how educated he is, and how he uses that education to make lectures fun, engaging and most of all understandable,” junior Keira Mok said.
CPHS staff members recognize Mr. Elston’s ability to grab his students’ attention while also making sure they understand the material. These traits are said to set him apart from other teachers.
“His ability to keep kids engaged while lecturing proves his ability to connect with his students,” Principal Russ Marcinek said. “He teaches incredibly difficult subjects, but students are often inspired by him to study extra and to spend time on his classwork because he makes it so interesting.”
Mr. Elston’s understanding of the diverse abilities of students is what allows for students to deeply understand the material. His focus on a comprehensive lesson for all students allows for no individual to fall behind. Mr. Elston makes sure students understand the complex lessons he teaches. His work towards making sure each and every person not only memorizes, but understands each concept is what makes him such a successful teacher.
“The most important part of being a teacher is patience and acceptance,” Mr. Elston said. “Everyone needs to be accepted for who they are, because everyone is different.”
Mr. Elston familiarizes himself to students in order to help them be unafraid to ask questions and receive help.
“When we have free time, Mr. Elston always makes us laugh with stories about his life,” senior Nathanial Townsend said. “Recently, he was telling us about how small his town was as a kid, and how his whole street shared a telephone line so he could pick up the phone and eavesdrop on other conversations as a child.”
Mr. Elston is not focused simply on memorization, but rather wants to help form young minds to comprehend and remember what they have learned. Mr. Elston works to help shape the minds of the future.
“My job as a teacher is to sell the material,” Mr. Elston said. “Selling it is what allows students to figure out what is important to them, and once you sell it you have to make sure they understand and remember it.”
Mr. Elston ensures students develop a deep understanding and appreciation for science. He wants to garuntee a future in which his students are able to comprehend even the most difficult of scientific topics, and overall fosters an environment conducive of curiousity and innovation.
