The Arrival of an Inquiring Educator

1 November 2011Robin J

Mr. Neil Bryant is the new chemistry, model UN and debate teacher, and general knowledge enthusiast on campus. He is also the Assistant House Parent in Rogers and he coaches volleyball. Born in Abbotsford, Mr. Bryant graduated from an IB-integrated public school there, toying with plans for majoring in either music, history, or science. He decided on studying chemistry at UVIC. Living in Victoria, he increasingly fell in love with life on the island, an appreciation which he still holds today and which has been a deciding element in his career. While taking an MA in Special Education at UBC, his first child, Haillie, came along and he decided to take a break from studying to learn about being a father, gaining experience there and also teaching in South Korea and at UVIC. These experiences were an inspiration to him, and in 2004, after the birth of his second child, James, he decided to give himself a trial of five years of teaching to see if it really was for him. He now says "After 13 years, I have not looked back".

Teenagers are no daunting task for this man. Most of Mr. Bryant’s teaching career thus far has been spent on the (dreaded) grounds of Shawnigan Lake School, an institution that he would have you believe is "much like Brentwood". There Mr. Bryant taught chemistry, math, and junior science, as well as playing a prominent role at the helm of their debate program, taking many trips locally and across Canada. After Shawnigan, Mr. Bryant went across the lake to help start up Dwight International School, a fledgling boarding school which gave him opportunity for administrative experience. One of Mr. Bryant’s passions is mountain biking, an endeavor for which the island provides much opportunity if one knows where to look. Singing and occasional bouts of acting in the Cowichan Valley also number among his interests. Finally, Mr. Bryant found himself at Brentwood (we call that evolution) after many years of "looking wistfully through its gates". He comes to Brentwood with years of experience and a great enthusiasm to keep doing more. He is a strong supporter of the Brentwood’s tripartite system and as a debater I am delighted to have another agile mind to spar with. Welcome Mr. Bryant!

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