After eight years in the BHS science dept., one of Beachwood’s most beloved teachers and mentors, Alexander Theodore Paulchell will, unfortunately, be leaving us. 

Paulchell clarified his motives for moving away. 

“I’m leaving not because I’m unhappy with Beachwood,… I’m leaving just because I want to see something else,” he said. “I have been in [Ohio] my entire life.”

Paulchell will be pursuing a PhD in Teaching and Learning at the University of Arizona while his fiancé will be working in the border healthcare system.

“I knew I couldn’t get another teaching job because I knew that no teaching job would compare to the conditions under which I currently work,” he said. “We love the Southwest because we love the sunshine and the Mexican influence on the region.”

Paulchell’s favorite thing about working at Beachwood has been the diversity our school has to offer. 

“Every student here comes from a different background,” he said. “We have different socioeconomic statuses, different religions [and] different languages. Getting to know each student was a completely unique experience.”

Sophomore Rachel Kantarovich, who took Paulchell’s honors biology course last year, praised his personality and the way he connects with every student as much as he can. 

“I felt like I didn’t really have a teacher where I could go to them and talk to them as much as I could with Mr. Paulchell,” Kantarovich said. 

Sophomore Molly Lewis, who is currently taking his honors anatomy and physiology class, believes Paulchell was an irreplaceable asset to BHS. 

“I think after he leaves it’s not going to be the same because there’s not really any other teacher that relatable, and who has more [of] a youthful energy,” Lewis said. 

If there was something Mr. Paulchell could change about Beachwood, he wishes it had a more tightly-knit staff. 

“I think what we’re lacking here is a network and a community of educators, because the teachers are here, it’s just, we don’t have the avenue to get to know each other,” he said.

Physics teacher Michael Lerner reflected in an email about his first encounter with Paulchell. 

“I’ve known Mr. Paulchell since he came to the school one afternoon and saw the GSA display we were making in the social studies hall,” Lerner wrote. “I was teaching here when Mr. Paulchell was hired, so I’ve been here for his whole Beachwood career.”

Paulchell also elaborated on how beneficial interactions with more teachers would be for the BHS staff. 

“There [are] some really incredible teachers here, and I hear [students] forming relationships with these other people, but I don’t feel like I often get the time or the space to get to know those people or even enjoy them in the way that [students] do,” he added. 

Lerner agreed, and emphasized the incredible professional growth Paulchell has achieved while working here. 

“I’ve watched Mr. Paulchell go from good to great as a teacher, and it’s been an honor to have a front-row seat,” Lerner wrote. 

Paulchell is proud of his honors anatomy and physiology course, which he wrote entirely independently. 

Lerner appreciates the effort Paulchell put into creating his course.

“Mr. Paulchell took a class with a ton of content–anatomy and physiology–and found a way to present it in memorable chunks so that lots of different students could find success,” he said. “He also relates really well with students.”

“I wrote anatomy by myself from nothing,” Paulchell said. “I used the textbook as guidance, but every single test I wrote from scratch, every single lab practical, I made that.” 

“I got to make it, teach it, deliver it and students seem to enjoy it,” he added.

They certainly do. Lewis and Kantarovich reflected on their fond memories of his classes.

“His comments were always hilarious and I love that about him,” Kantarovich said with a grin. 

“Sometimes if someone comes a few minutes late, he’ll like, ask a random person if they should be marked tardy or not,” Lewis recalled, smiling. 

Paulchell wants people to remember him for his attitude towards his job. 

“Every single day, even if I’m having a bad day or something’s going on in my personal life or at home, when I came into work, it was an escape from all that,” Paulchell said. “And when a student walked into my room and said, ‘Good morning, Mr Paulchell!’ everything else could sort of sit and wait. Everyone made me so happy.”

“I really liked how he went over everything with the class and he went through everything step by step, and really made sure that we knew the material and what we were doing beforehand,” Kantarovich said. 

“You could always retake stuff and your first grade isn’t your final grade,” Lewis said.

In parting, Paulchell advises BHS staff and students to lighten-up.

“It’s not that serious,” he said. “It never is. And I get that you have goals and you want to achieve them and that’s all very realistic. But I think we could all use a little reality check that you can have some fun. You can be silly. You can be lighthearted and accomplish your mission.”

Well said, ATP. You will be missed.