In May 2016, I was asked by my friend Jennifer Keenan, a Royal St. George’s College Board Member, to write a letter to nominate Chris D’Arcy for the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Chris D’Arcy was one of the best teachers to teach my sons at RSGC, so without hesitation, I said yes. My letter was part of a nomination package that included a letter from the Head Master, a letter from a former student and a lengthy profile written by a school administrator. A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to hear that Chris had won the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Achievement Award. Below is my nomination letter:

Dear Selection Committee Members:

Chris D’Arcy is the teacher from high school whom my son and many others will never forget. Chris is a dedicated and passionate teacher who, through his passion for teaching, made a profound difference in my son’s high school life. He is a teacher who has inspired, challenged, enriched, encouraged and nurtured countless young men at Royal St. George’s College over the past 40 years. During this time, Chris has changed the course of many lives and pointed many of his students in a direction they may not have chosen had they not had the opportunity to be taught by this remarkable teacher.

Chris D’Arcy founded the ACES Program (The Advanced Computer Engineering School) at RSGC, introducing students to the world of computer software and hardware design. Chris’ classes prepare his students for university and life beyond high school. His students are taught how to write code effectively and efficiently, to design, engineer and build technical projects, and how to critically analyze their own work. In Chris D’Arcy’s classroom, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving and the ability to work collaboratively are part of the daily lessons. Chris doesn’t give the students the answers; instead he kindly nudges them in the right direction, emphasizing the importance of problem solving and perseverance. His students learn that there isn’t just one way to solve a problem. While searching for different solutions, his students learn to be more resourceful and better problem solvers. Chris understands that in order to facilitate deeper understanding, his students ought not to be given all the answers without them first putting in a genuine effort.

In 2015, Chris’ grade 11 class decided to create a “start-up”, by designing, building, marketing and selling a product- the RSGC Gecko Clock. The students designed the printed circuit boards (PCBs) on their computers and programmed the software for a clock that showed the time, date, and room temperature on an LED display. The marketing class was asked for feedback on the product. Revisions were made to the design to enhance its look and improve the marketability. The film class was invited to create a promotional video for the clock. When the video was shown at an assembly, the inventory quickly sold out. Chris’ students learned not only what was involved in creating a start-up, they also learned about collaboration. Chris taught his students a life lesson- if they put in their best effort and work in collaboration with others, they will be met with success.

Chris D’Arcy’s program steered many of his students in a new direction- one they may not have chosen had it not been for his guidance and encouragement. Students are inspired to go into computer science or software, electrical or computer engineering after having gone through his courses. When they get to university, his students find that they are more than prepared to face the academic challenges. Chris’s classes teach his students about time management, especially with weekly assignments due on Saturday night. Students quickly learn to work on their assignments earlier in the week, enabling them to seek help if needed, to collaborate, to take the time needed to perfect their work and ultimately to avoid missing out on social events on the weekend.

Former students of Chris D’Arcy report that his stimulating and innovative learning environment was the class where everybody was excited to go to next period. Before school, during spares and after school, his students love to spend time in the Aces Lab and be part of his technology incubator. Whenever my son was late for dinner, a call to his cell phone confirmed that he was in the lab with the software guys, working on an assignment, helping a friend with a tricky software concept or trying to discover why a circuit wasn’t behaving correctly. Chris’ classroom is the gathering spot for computer geeks, student leaders and high-level thinkers. In his classroom, while students actively debate solutions to problems, Chris quietly observes, with a knowing smile- the knowledgeable guide at the side. Chris never dismisses a wrong answer; instead he encourages taking risks. As he often says: success only comes with risk.

Parent, Sandra Linsdell shares a reflection:

Chris D’Arcy is the teacher who gave my son his first “aha” moment of genuine problem solving.  The moment occurred late one evening after Jamie had been tenaciously working on a computer hardware problem.  The tenacity itself was notable, as he was seldom so determined to solve a homework problem.  Around 11:30 pm, we heard an audible “aha” and “got it”.  Why was this so significant?  First, Mr. D’Arcy would provide the students with challenges outside of their current knowledge base (and possibly outside of his), with the confidence that they would be able to work their way to a solution.  Secondly, he provided support for the students, not in helping them solve the problems, but in encouraging them to take risks and learn from failing, and then reapply that knowledge.  Finally, the course material was so stimulating and Mr. D’Arcy so motivating, that the students wanted to deliver the result.    A grade earned in Mr. D’Arcy’s class was truly earned, and came with a huge sense of accomplishment for the students.    

Sandra’s thoughts are ones often expressed by the parents of Chris’ students. Chris has a way of bringing out a tremendous work ethic and perseverance in his students.

Chris D’Arcy is passionate about teaching and is willingly to adapt his program each year, taking cues from the advances in technology in the changing world and tailoring his classes to the interests of the students. In one year, his grade 12 students might focus on low-level programming of microcontrollers, while in a previous year the students focused on making robots and quad-copters, with mechanical engineering being their interest. Through Chris D’Arcy’s emphasis on self-guided assignments, he teaches his students to be independent and develop a strong work ethic. Instead of having assignments with strict guidelines, Chris encourages creativity and ingenuity, as long as the project incorporates what is being taught in class. Chris’s emphasis on deep thinking and problem solving set up his students to be life-long learners and critical thinkers. Chris wants his students to think outside the box. Building robots, writing code, designing switches and circuits, creating embedded systems- it all happens here.

Last year, for one major project, students were asked to propose a creative hardware challenge and then design and build it.  Two students thought it would be a fun idea to build a computerized gecko habitat that would house a pair of geckos, who would then serve as mascots for the class.  Mr. D’Arcy, possibly with some skepticism, agreed to the project. The computerized habitat was a success. The custom built structure accommodated the mechanisms to feed the geckos and give them water, and control the temperature and humidity. In fact, the project was so successful that the geckos (named Mandelbrot and Julia after two sets of complex numbers) have thrived and have recently reproduced. This project was such an empowering, motivating, and pleasurable experience for the boys involved.  Being so willing to listen to his students interests and continually updating his course after decades of teaching, shows a clear passion for teaching and a care for his students’ success.

Chris D’Arcy is a remarkable teacher and an outstanding person. His dedication, innovation, commitment, and leadership are exemplary and he deserves to be recognized. On behalf of all of the parents whose sons have flourished in Chris’ classroom, I nominate Chris D’Arcy for the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Sincerely,

Lianne Hill