By Kathleen McAleese
Managing Editor

Sometimes, students find themselves believing that teachers have no lives out of school, that they live in their classrooms, and sleep under their desks. Contrary to popular belief, no teacher lives at school, and new teacher Chris Gorham is no different.

Gorham grew up in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan, Syracuse University Law School, and recently obtained his Master’s in Education from Tufts University

Currently in his fifth year teaching, Gorham was a long term substitute at Lincoln-Sudbury High School, and taught Social Studies and English at a middle school for four years prior to coming to Westford Academy. Before his teaching career began, he started a career as a lawyer but wished to be more involved with people in his everyday work environment.

“[Teaching has] been a long time desire of mine. I found it was a little impersonal, you’re dealing, as a lawyer, in certain types of practice, with a lot of paperwork and not a lot of people, and I didn’t want to continue to do that,” said Gorham.

Interested in both history and the social sciences, Gorham teaches Sociology, US History I and US History II, allowing him to teach all age levels in the school. His passion for both teaching and learning come across clearly to his students as well.

“Mr. Gorham is very passionate about what he is teaching, and students can tell. His passion and quirky personality carry over into his teaching and it makes learning enjoyable,” said junior Ally Mooney, who is in Gorham’s US History II Honors class.

Outside of his blatant passion for history, Gorham also plays in a band in Boston and loves cooking.

“[My wife and I] have a very good, very expansive recipe collection and we like to try out new recipes,” he explained.

Switching from Lincoln-Sudbury to WA has been a relatively smooth transition, due to the same high expectations for students and a similar student population.

“WA has a tremendous reputation  for excellence, and I was really impressed when I sat down with the department head and Mr. Antonelli and Mr. Olsen,” Gorham said. “I’m very happy to be a part of the faculty here.”

For Gorham, making the switch from being a lawyer to a high school Social Studies teacher has proved to be a great choice.

“I love, absolutely love history and to be able to share my love of history as a profession is something that makes me happy to wake up in the morning,” said Gorham.