Head of the Class

Gary Handley, who teaches humanities classes at The Meadows School, is a man of many passions.

Handley has been a part of The Meadows family for 13 years.

From the time he was a student, he had always helped people with homework so that they understood what they were learning. He loved doing it so much that he decided there was no better profession to pursue than teaching.

Handley says his passion for teaching stems from his love of sharing as well as being involved with knowledge.

"Being a teacher is not just a job, but an identity," Handley says. "When most people go home after work, they have clients, but when a teacher goes home, they leave a piece of their heart here.

"Being a teacher is much more than just a job, but rather a part of your soul."

Handley's passion for knowledge spills over into the classroom, where he leads open discussions and encourages students to share their opinions.

"In Mr. Handley's class he gives us a supplement to read rather than only having him discuss it," says student Brian Fahey, a senior. "He opens up the discussion to students, which benefits the students much more than a simple lecture does."

In addition to his passion for teaching, Handley also loves to travel. He says his travels have helped him show students what they're learning about.

"Dr. (Robert) Allen (who teaches chemistry at The Meadows) is able to physically show students on a regular basis what they are learning, but when it comes to humanity teachers, our 'lab' is what we are able to show people while we are traveling," Handley says.

Handley says his favorite place to travel is Brazil, citing his love of everything from the food to the "wonderful Portuguese language."

Handley says his inclination to engage students in open discussions is something he sees in his travels to Brazil. "Brazil has a very make-yourself-at-home kind of culture," he says.

While traveling, Handley says, he loves to look at skylines to see what the architecture says about the purpose of that specific city.

Handley cites some favorite skylines: New York, because it is very monumental and has many older skyscrapers; Rio de Janeiro, Sydney and Hong Kong, for their natural settings; and Cairo, because of the thousands of minarets there that he says are all in great shape.

Along with traveling and teaching, Handley has a passion for cooking.

"My brother is a chef, so I get some tips from him," says Handley, who prides himself on being mainly self-taught.

Handley has many favorite dishes, among them: Brazilian beans and rice, shark steaks with a mango chutney, salads, stewed meats cooked on a low flame in a Dutch oven, and soups.

The dean of students, David Lamb, praises Handley's contributions to The Meadows School.

"His superior intelligence is only surpassed by his giant heart," Lamb says.