Kevin DeRosiers is an energetic new chemistry teacher at Bolles. DeRosiers was originally from up north.

“I was originally from Massachusetts, then I moved to Orlando and then to Jacksonville,” “he said.”

DeRosiers was very busy and occupied from a young age. He was involved in sports early in his childhood and through high school.

“I had a very busy life and played a lot of sports like baseball, basketball, bowling, soccer, and golf,” “he said”. ““When I was inside I loved to read and play Pokemon.””

Although he was busy, he never shied away from giving a helping hand and discovered his desire to teach early on.

“Around high school”,” when I was taking chemistry is when I first started my love for teaching. I was used as an in-class tutor to help other students and realized I loved helping others.”

Not long  after, he made a move down south to Orlando, Florida. There, he started his dream career teaching.

“My first year of teaching was 2014-2015 at Freedom High School in Orlando, I loved it there because their mascot was a patriot and the Patriots are my favorite football team.”

DeRosiers taught at Freedom High School for years, then he moved to Jacksonville to teach at Mandarin. There, Mrs. McLeod, a former teacher at Mandarin and friend of DeRosiers, notified him of a job opening at Bolles. He was ecstatic about this opportunity

“I decided around June 2024 to come to Bolles,” he said, ”It was a no-brainer to take it, especially with zero hour and activities as well as the tradition and prestige of the school.”

His first weeks at Bolles have been great. “It’s been fantastic here, I always tell my friends over at Mandarin that I’m spoiled to teach here at Bolles.”

Nonetheless, teaching at Bolles is different from teaching in public schools

“Seems like grades have been a big difference,” he said, ““The + and – system is a big difference. At public schools 90% is an A.””

DeRosiers has had to adjust and adapt his lesson plans and teaching style with the current students and curriculum

.“I’m trying to move a lot more to interactive lessons than lectures. A lot depends on the level and how you can explain and teach different students.”

DeRosiers has had a lot of good moments and memories from teaching over the years, he loves teaching AP classes and helping students do well when they didn’t think they’d pass.

He loves to connect with his students.“My favorite part of teaching is probably building relationships with the students, even though chemistry is cool, not all students are interested and that’s fine

“Some teachers are very rigid and strict, but I’m more interested in not overloading a student.”