The Wonderful Mr. Brice

When you think of Mr. Brice what comes into your head? Have you ever had any questions for him that you’ve never asked? Anything from what made him become what he is today, to what he does outside of school? Have you ever wondered what his greatest accomplishments in life have been? What he still does today or just any simple fact about him? Personally I hadn’t considered the thought too much, but then I found out about the amazing things he has done in his life. Sometimes we assume that teachers have always been teachers, but it can be surprising to find out what they’ve actually been through. Like the well known saying says, don’t judge a book by its cover. You’ll be fascinated to find out what Mr. Brice has done.

Mr. Brice has been involved in education for about 40 years. He has been teaching high school for the past eleven years in the United States and taught for nine years in the Caribbean. What motivated him to become a teacher was the fact that he loved to interact with kids, especially those in high school. In his family he has three generations of teachers. As a child he had always planned on going to college, following in his parents and grandparents footsteps. He first attended Caribbean Union College in Trinidad in 1968 and returned to St. Lucia in 1971 to begin his teaching assignment with St. Lucia Academy. Mr Brice came to the United States in the summer of 1977 and enlisted in the United States Air Force. While in the service, he was responsible for the recurring academic ground training program for the pilot navigators of the FB-11 and KC-135 Squadrons. While there, he decided to go down the engineering path and studied hard to become an industrial engineer.

After leaving the Air Force in 1983, Mr. Brice spent the next 15 years as a general building contractor in New York and St. Lucia. During that period he taught on a part-time basis at a number of places. He knew that teaching had always been one of his passions, so he decided to settle down into the educational field in 2000. Mr. Brice is still very active in selling real estate, when he is not in the classroom. He is capable of teaching many courses in the engineering and business fields. He holds graduate degrees in Management from USC and RPI and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. Mr. Brice still thinks that his most prized degree is an Associate Degree in Aerospace Control Systems Technology – from the Community College of the Air Force.

Pictured is the wonderful Mr. Brice. (Photo Credit: Marilyn Santos Reyes)

AITE is the perfect school for him because engineering courses are offered here and it’s one of the main focuses of the school. When asked what he thought about other high schools in comparison to AITE, he pointed out how most of the kids at AITE tend to be more focused. This is because AITE is a school of choice and the students come here because they wish to do so. Not only this, but the school is smaller, which means smaller classes. With smaller classes the students are given the opportunity to have a more specialized education.

His favorite thing about teaching is the satisfaction of students learning. The students are provided with the equipment to get their tasks done, but one of the more stressful things is when they don’t do their work. He believes that students shouldn’t do their work for the teacher, but for themselves. Even if it takes longer to do, knowing that you actually understand what you’re doing is better than just doing something to get it done.

Not only has Mr. Brice been a member of the Air Force, is a teacher and a loving father of 6, but he also develops real estate out of school during his spare time. Mr. Brice is a man who always finds ways to keep himself entertained and busy. He enjoys things that revolve around building and construction.

Personally, after having Mr. Brice as a teacher this year, I can honestly say that he is my favorite teacher. He was really easy to talk to from the start and still continues to be. He gives some of the best advice and helps get kids on the right track. He helped me make up my mind about what I want to do in the future. I’ve brought friends in to talk to him and he has done the same with them. He sees a lot of potential in many of his students and is upfront about what he feels about you. He tells you how it is, even if his words might be a little harsh at times, they are wake up calls to make sure you do what you should do.

If you ever get the chance to talk to Mr. Brice, give his words serious consideration because, trust me, you won’t regret doing so. He is an amazing teacher as well as just an amazing person in general. He is a caring man with a big heart, and he is willing to make sure his students learn and stay on, or get on, the right track. You just have to be dedicated to what you are doing. The quote he always says that I will never forget is: “Pick your friends wisely because if they’re not ON your way they’re IN you way.”

Many of the other faculty members at AITE have accomplished numerous things in their lives. Don’t be afraid to ask them about their pasts, you might be surprised at what you find out. Mr. Brice has accomplished many things in life and still continues to do so, things many students would have never imaged. But, if you ever just need a friend to talk to, he’s just a walk away. You won’t regret meeting or talking to him.