Chapman has welcomed many new teachers this year, but one in particular isn’t new to teaching at all.

Actually, he has 41 years of teaching under his belt.

Harold Gentry joined the faculty of Chapman this year as the AP Calculus teacher.

He said that he chose to come teach at Chapman this year after teaching at Landrum High School the previous year in hopes of getting the same results.

“I had taught last year at Landrum High School, and I felt like I could have the same results here as I did at Landrum,” Gentry said.

Principal Ty Dawkins decided to ask Gentry to teach calculus at Chapman this year after hearing about his AP exam success.

“He has a great passing rate in calculus,” Dawkins said. “It is my job to provide my students with every opportunity for success.”

Gentry’s teaching career was made possible by an initial desire to coach football.

“Ultimately, when I got out of college I wanted to coach football so I had to teach, so I chose math,” Gentry said.

Gentry is a teacher many would describe as challenging.

“Mr. Gentry’s style of teaching is very intense,” senior T.J. Hollon said. “You have to put in a lot of work on your own to figure out how to get through the class compared to being able to come in and get help at any time from your teachers. You have to figure it out yourself.”

Just four weeks in, students have already faced obstacles.

“The hardest obstacle for me so far is being able to work at an uncomfortable pace while balancing the workload he places in front of me,” Hollon said.

Gentry feels as if he has the ability to explain this vigorous course in a way that is comprehensible for high school students.

“I think I have an ability to explain calculus in a manner the students can understand,” Gentry said. “Since I can compare students to hundreds of others, I can see their ability. I don’t accept less than their best effort and I work as hard as the student does so they can succeed.“

Because of the success he has obtained in his 41 years of teaching, Gentry has his own definition of what a “successful” student is.

“(A successful student is) someone who works to the best of their ability no matter what it is,” Gentry said. “I would like for each student to make a five (on the AP exam) but I’ve had students in the past not pass but be successful in college just by putting up with me for a semester.”

Hollon hopes that this class will teach him not only calculus, but lessons that will help him in the future as well.

“I hope I can gain the knowledge on how to self-motivate and focus during the course,” Hollon said. “ Also, to be able to problem solve more efficiently and swiftly.”

Bringing a new teacher with so much experience and success tinto the picture is what Mr. Dawkins hopes to be just the beginning for AP Calculus.

“I hope this is only the beginning,” Dawkins said. “I  want the AP Calculus class to build and grow.”

Dawkins wants all of the students who are taking the course or plan to take it to know that patience is the key for success.

“You need to be patient and continue to learn and grow because he is so passionate about his calculus class that you will pick up and learn from him,” Dawkins said.

Hollon believes the hard work will be worth it.

“It feel confident because Mr. Gentry is confident in the way he teaches, so I think he will set me up for success as long as I continue to work for him,” he said.

Forty-one years is a long time to teach, but Gentry said he wouldn’t change anything about his time as a teacher.

“I wouldn’t (do anything differently),” Gentry said. “I think that if you can do something you enjoy doing then you’re lucky and I have been able to do what I enjoy since I graduated college.”