Mr. Bryce Chan tries to sound boring on purpose, but he’s a lot more down-to-earth than he lets on! He is the new chemistry teacher at Glendale High School and is bound to make a difference.
Although he’s a Californian from head-to-toe, some people may be surprised to learn he was born in Vancouver, Canada. Before coming to GHS, Mr. Chan had a quick spell as an elementary school P.E. teacher. (I can imagine that our freshmen probably feel like slightly-taller 5th graders to him.)
As for free time, Mr. Chan is like a lot of students on our campus. He goes to the gym, hangs out with friends and boy, does he love to unwind with a big meal in front of him! When he’s not working out at them gym, he likes to stay active and push himself to his limits, so he sometimes participates in grueling challenges, like Spartan Races, with his friends.
Before coaching elementary schoolers, Mr. Chan studied kinesiology for his bachelor’s degree at CSUN, and he also earned his master’s degree there in public health. College is where he really found his spark for science, specifically human anatomy, and this set his path for later in life.
Once you get acquainted with Mr. Chan, you’ll quickly learn that he’s all about chemistry inside his classroom. For one, he really enjoys both the science and math aspects of the subject. Moreover, he refers to it as a “nice mix”, and that’s what makes it special.
Most importantly, Mr Chan hopes to clear the air around chemistry. His ultimate goal is to “get students not to fear chemistry so much” or at least “not see it in such a negative light.”
While Mr. Chan appears to have both a personal and a professional relationship with his students, he also believes teaching is a “golden opportunity” to affect young minds. He noted that high school doesn’t always prepare students for life after graduation. That being said, he looks forward to teaching students skills that will help them adjust to the real world through chemistry.
Mr. Chan believes that what sets his subject apart from other sciences is that lessons learned in chemistry have value beyond school. “Not saying physics or biology don’t,” he added with a laugh. This ties in with his larger goal of leaving students more prepared for the world after high school, which is something he’s clearly passionate about.
Crucially, Mr. Chan believes that education is a two-way street, and both teachers and students have something to learn. One thing he hopes to learn from his students is to “help [him] realize what it’s like to be a teenager at this time.” He feels that it’s natural for educators to feel dissociated between the current generation and their own. By learning from students, he believes that there’s potential to grow into a better teacher.
As for the future, Mr. Chan is enjoying his time at GHS so far and always thinks there’s room for growth. He’s looking forward to the future and perfecting his craft. He hopes for his first school year to run smoothly, both for himself and his students, as he gets to know them on a personal level.
Ultimately, Mr. Chan is an “Au-some” teacher and remains excited for the upcoming school year.
