By Craig Brinkerhoff
Staff Writer
This past year was Stephen Gallant’s first year as a physics teacher at Westford Academy; it will also be his last. Just after the end of finals, Gallant will be beginning his medical residency in psychiatry.
“Life is about to get a lot busier. Regardless of the type of residency, the first year [intern year] is arduous. Unfortunately my new job, or residency, begins just as my teaching job ends,” said Gallant.
As he leaves Westford Academy, some of his students reflect on how he was as a teacher.
“He’s a funny and interesting man whom anyone can learn from whether it be physics or life,” said junior Molly Ryan.
Junior Georgia McAlister elaborated on Gallant’s love of teaching.
“Despite the complicated nature of the class I always found myself and my fellow classmates cracking up throughout the entire period. He always finds ways to make physics exciting. From his hands on labs to his lively demonstrations, we were never bored,” said McAlister.
Gallant began his professional career as a mechanical engineer, working for a small local firm as a pipe stress analyst for nuclear and non-nuclear power plants. As the economy worsened, so did Gallant’s optimism.
“Though I was fortunate to have employment in my field of study, I did not find this particular work very interesting. The power plant industry, like the engineering job market, continued to weaken,” he said.
Engineering, in Gallant’s opinion, tends to stifle creativity, so as an outlet, he began to perform in community theater productions. It was there that he was introduced to teaching, for a majority of the actors were teachers, and his love of academia was rekindled.
In 1994, he began to study for his Masters in Education. In order to pay for this, he had to take some additional life science courses and work nights as a waiter to pay for his education. Within a year, he was on the lookout for a student teaching position.
“While student teaching at Chelmsford High School was nerve wracking and stressful, my first year as a real teacher was more challenging than anything I have ever done. I learned a lot about myself through many successes and failures. Fortunately, before the end of my first year, I found a way to be myself and establish a friendly, professional alliance with my students and coworkers,” said Gallant.
Gallant then spent the next few years honing his craft as a physics teacher, learning how to approach and grab the attention of students while working at a school in Manchester, New Hampshire. He soon left this inner-city teaching environment for a medical residency in internal medicine. This branch of medicine is generally associated with ER work and the terminally ill.
Despite this, teaching was his true calling, and being around the sick was, in his opinion, depressing. So Gallant gladly accepted a job offer at Westford for this year.
“WA has been an ideal teaching environment. Beyond the beauty of the physical space there exists a high standard for thoughtful and effective educational practices … It was a difficult decision to leave teaching but I am confident in my choice knowing that employment at WA was the ultimate,” he said.
McAlister also understands how difficult of a decision it was for Gallant to leave.
“It really is too bad only a few classes got to have him as a teacher. I’m sure all my classmates will agree with me that we really are lucky to have had him this year,” she said.
Restarting his residency in psychiatry, Gallant knows the real hard work is about to begin. For now, he is simply admiring the good weather, going for runs, and watching his favorite TV shows.
Overall Gallant is excited for what is ahead, and is very thankful for his experiences at Westford Academy.
“Had I worked at a lesser school I would be left to wonder whether if a better teaching job would have justified staying in the field of education,” said Gallant.
