Chris D’Arcy

Year: 2017 – Province: Ontario

Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Chris D'Arcy

Royal St. George's College
120 Howland Avenue
Toronto, Ontario  M5R 3B5

Principal: Stephen Beatty
School telephone: 416-533-9481
School email: cdarcy@rsgc.on.ca
School website: www.rsgc.on.ca

Subjects and grades taught: Grades 3-12, Information technology, computer engineering

Described by students and colleagues as a mentor, builder and risk-taker, after 40 years of experience, Chris D'Arcy still makes sure that no lesson is ever delivered the same way.

Teaching approach

In Chris' classes, each student is working toward an end goal that has a real world conclusion. A collaborator and a progressive educator, he makes sure that students are able to communicate their thinking and ideas in both the spoken and written word.

Outstanding achievements

  • Chris has built a program that has students bringing a product to market. The ACES (Advanced Computer Engineering School) introduces students to computer software and hardware design. Deadlines are not arbitrary, senior students mentor junior students, and the products are sold in the school store.
  • Chris has founded a Fix-It Club in his design studio. Campus members are invited to bring in small broken appliances to be restored and reused by the students.
  • Students are regularly invited to explore the use of technology for a greater good. They mentor students from schools in socio-economically depressed areas of the city, have solar panels installed on the school roof and create a green wall in the classroom.

Rave reviews

"When I entered university, I found that I was better prepared after having Chris as my teacher as there was significant overlap between the additional course material Chris created and content in first year university."

Former student

"[Chris] is a teacher who has inspired, challenged, enriched, encouraged and nurtured countless young men at Royal St. George's College over the past 40 years. During this time, he has changed the course of many lives and pointed many of his students in a direction they may not have chosen had they not had the opportunity to be taught by this remarkable teacher."

Parent