A Man of Many Talents

30 September 2022Neve M, Hope ‘23

The teachers here at Brentwood are constantly praised for their hard work and resilience. Most of the faculty have multiple responsibilities in the school, all juggling their different roles with determination. Imagine being a houseparent, a teacher, and a sports coach all in one week; it’s hard to believe certain staff members tackle it all. Even though their efforts are split, there seems to never be a wobble in the devotion and effort these individuals show. How can they truly handle it all?

Mr Rodrigues is a staple in Brentwood culture, historically and presently. Beloved by every Privett lad, highly popular in the university counseling office, and the most spirited physics teacher ever to be seen. This year is unlike previous, when Mr Rodrigues only taught AP Physics 11 and took on Privett duty. Now he is teaching both AP Physics 12 and 11, both classes almost at capacity, all while maintaining his presence in university counseling.

How does Mr Rodrigues do it all? Students continuously question his high energy in accordance with his workload. How is he not fatigued? Mr Rodrigues confesses that teaching both physics classes was, at first, “not an ideal situation given all of my responsibilities, but as time wore on, I became excited to be able to ensure that the AP physics classes are delivered by an experienced teacher”. Mr Rodrigues then revealed his motivation behind teaching, stating that “It’s a lot of work, but I love teaching the AP classes”.

His energetic teaching style comes from a genuine love of the topic and the learning process, and it’s evident if you sit in any of his classes.“Mr Rodrigues makes a seemingly dull topic interesting and captivating. He has a multitude of ways to get our attention. He never seems to have low energy and is always ready to help, teach and have fun. The best classes for him are the classes when everyone is energetic and showing true tenacity to learn” accounts Ty D, Whittall, ‘23, on the quality of Mr Rodrigues’ physics classes.

With almost 30 students in both AP Physics classes, you could expect some bumps in the road; but Mr Rodrigues paves the way by assuring that “a bigger physics class is not that different, except when it comes to trying to do lab activities. Equipment, space, and time all put pressure on the ability for all students to complete experiments”.

It’s indisputable that Mr Rodrigues is an experienced and talented physics teacher, but he is also a helpful university counselor. In the university counseling office, Mr Rodrigues is nearly always booked up and constantly bustling around helping students from all grades with all different matters. A usual day for university counseling includes helping with applications, switching classes, dropping classes, and correcting academic pathways everywhere. Mr Rodrigues balances teaching physics and the strenuous job of university counseling “not easily! There are a lot of demands on me from both, so trying to devote energy to both effectively can be challenging. In the office, it is always about meeting with students, so it can be difficult to set aside time to deal with work for physics. But I’m doing my best!”.

Despite the tiring days, Mr Rodrigues still stays excited by the little things, truly proving his bubbly and resilient personality. “Honestly it’s the iPad that excites me most this year. I watched how Ms Olszewski used it in her classes last year, so I was intent on adopting it in my teaching. It has been a very cool tool so far, and I know it’s going to allow me to elevate my interaction with students in the classroom!” states Mr Rodrigues.

Hopefully, the university counseling office and the many students of AP Physics treat Mr Rodrigues well, for he doesn’t have time to deal with negative attitudes. It’s positivity that keeps this man running!

Neve M, Hope ‘23

Where Students Choose To Be