Brian Li became the third person named to the Downing/Williams Endowed Chair of Teaching Excellence, 他将在2021-22学年担任这个职位. The endowment was established in 2018 with the philanthropic support of alumni parents Nancy and Bruce Downing, 耶茨12岁的父母, 夏洛特的14, 汤米的17, 迈克尔19岁. 赋予椅子是卓越的教师和教学卓越的代名词. 获奖者将获得津贴和专业发展奖.

Q: 你是怎么在普罗维登斯日工作的?

I grew up in Cheraw, a small country town in South Carolina, and went to a very rural high school. From there, I went to Wake Forest University where I double-majored in 数学ematics and anthropology. 当我没能进入人类学研究生院的时候, 我决定搬到夏洛特，试着教书. I taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Calculus during my first year at a local high school. 这是一段难以置信的艰难经历, but looking back it makes me really appreciate being at a school like Providence Day.

在我熬过那一年之后, 我申请了镇上所有的私立学校, 并且互相, 警局给我回了电话. The interview went well and I will forever be grateful to [former Head of Middle School] Sam Caudill for rolling the dice on a very inexperienced teacher and for believing in the potential he saw in me. I can’t talk about my time at PD without mentioning [25-year former teacher] Beth Ralston. She was such a legendary Charger who patiently took me under her wing and constantly gave me guidance. 作为一名老师，她对我的成长影响很大. 长话短说，我从2004年就开始参加普罗维登斯日了!

问:你在普罗维登斯日担任过什么角色?

我在警局的时候, I’ve been fortunate enough to be given a variety of opportunities to serve the community. 我扮演过的角色包括中学足球教练, 中学高尔夫教练, 中学数学系, 学生会, 多样性的俱乐部, 还有各种各样的学校相关委员会. I’ve also had the pleasure of serving as the Middle School Diversity Coordinator. 在那个职位上，我能够和Dr. 纳迪亚·约翰逊(2016-21年度多元化、公平主管)， & 包含). 她是一位了不起的导师和朋友. 回顾, I am really proud of how far we have grown as a school in regards to equity and diversity.

就在教室里, 我教过六年级, 7th, 还有八年级的数学课, 个人理财, 甚至是警局12年级的微积分. My favorite role is and always will be being in front of the classroom with the students.

Q: 普罗维登斯日对你和你的家人有什么影响?

普罗维登斯日是我成年后所知道的一切. So the impact PD has on me is very large in terms of the community and the people I have gotten to know over the years. 除了在夏洛特-梅克伦堡学校的一年，PD就是我的全部. 它对塑造今天的我产生了巨大的影响. When I first got here I barely knew how to pay the bills and buy groceries and now I’m married with a first grader and a fourth grader. When I think about PD, I’ve really grown up in this community and it’s shaped me into who I am today.

问:你当老师最难忘的时刻是什么?

去年，混血儿年，对每个人来说都很困难. It really makes me appreciate what was considered a normal year and I will never take that for granted again. I’ll always remember how amazing the kids did – they did really well with everything we threw at them – and the school did a really admirable job rolling with the punches and evolving on the fly.

I would also have to say the part that is most memorable for me involves my own kids. Having my younger son here is the most rewarding thing – being a teacher and having my son here. 我大儿子不在警局的时候, 这是我非常感激的，我永远不会认为这是理所当然的. 他喜欢它，他的老师也很棒. 在校园里见到他是我梦寐以求的事, 而在生活中，期望很少与现实相符, this is one of the times where the experience has been everything I hoped it would be. The journey we have had with Erin Harper and the Lower School/Extended Day family so far has been absolutely phenomenal. 他们是一群特殊的教育者.

Q: What is unique about the students and the community you interact with at PD?

I’ve always been my most authentic self when I’m in front of the classroom interacting with the students. 他们总是激发出我最好的一面, 而不是反过来, 这是PD社区非常特别和独特的地方. In this community, just walking around campus, and students of all ages will say ‘Hi’ to you. Forging those relationships and watching these kids grow up has been the best part of the job. 当他们毕业和校友回来参观时，这对我来说是超现实的. 还有哪里的人会回来看他们六年级的数学老师? 对我来说，PD的独特之处在于它的家庭和学生.

Q: What was your reaction when your name was called as the winner of the Downing/Williams Endowed Chair of Teaching Excellence?

That was really special and it’s a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life. 现在回想起来，我仍然不敢相信我得了这个奖. It was truly a career-defining moment for me and something I’ll treasure forever. To be awarded this honor on the school’s 50th year anniversary and in front of the Class of 2021, 他们在我心中有着特殊的地位, 梦想成真了吗. The icing on top was the surprise of my wife Mira being there in attendance and also having the award handed to me by Randy Sienkowski, 我的一个朋友, 导师, and colleague who I regard as being one of the absolute best teachers I have ever worked with and someone I’ve always looked up to. 那一刻对我来说真的很酷.

问:你打算如何使用这个奖项?

I was so excited about it that I made my proposal for using the stipend that Monday immediately following Commencement! 具体细节还在制定中, my initial plan is to utilize the money to start an investment fund where future earnings will be used to directly support student-led entrepreneurship initiatives. I’m really excited about it and cannot wait to see where this leads down the road.

问:在PD之外，你喜欢做什么?

花时间和家人在一起是最重要的. 我的第一要务. 我也喜欢健身，并尽可能多地阅读金融方面的书籍, 数学, 还有哲学——很多非虚构作品.