Scott Chan, a former computer designer, is now helping students with science.
Chan is a new teacher at Carlmont. He taught physics at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo for three years.
At Carlmont, he teaches two periods of AS Physics and three periods of Engineering and Green Technology. Chan enjoys the type of students that he teaches.
“Tenth and 11th graders have figured out how high school works and are not distracted by college [as seniors are],” Chan said.
Chan is pleased to be a teacher at Carlmont so far. He has fun teaching his students and observing them grow academically.
“It has been a wonderful experience. I’m grateful for having attentive students who learn quickly,” said Chan.
Before pursuing teaching as career, he was a computer designer for a long time in Silicon Valley.
“I went to college at Stanford. I have a Bachelors and Masters in electrical engineering. When I decided to get my teaching credentials, I went to Santa Clara University,” Chan said.
Chan enjoyed helping his own children with their own studies. They are both now in college.
“I used to help my kids with science,” Chan said. “This gave me the idea of helping other students.”
Chan understands the college process and the differences in grade levels.
“I have two children of my own, so I have gone through all the process,” Chan said.
Because many seniors are stressed with college, Chan wants to make his class fun and creative to make this year interesting for them.
“I’m very excited about the Engineering and Green Technology class. It was started a few years ago, and I want to continue teaching it. I want to do fun projects for students to explore new designs and builds,” Chan said.
Chan’s past experiences of teaching physics help him apply it to real life.
“He has a lot of real life examples,” said sophomore Noah Shamsai. “He tells us stories about his [former] students using physics in their lives.”
In Chan’s Engineering and Green Technology class, senior Nicole Dermenjian said, “He is very qualified. I know he did a lot of research work. I think I’m going to learn a lot in this class.”
With his knowledge and past experience on electrical engineering, Chan is prepared for what is to come.
