By Chris Park
Meet a multi-talented, versatile, and fun-loving teacher at RHS. Mr. Dawson teaches multiple disciplines. Licensed to teach business, mathematics, and computer science, he currently teaches AP Economics and AP Calculus BC, a course known among students for its rigor and high expectations. Mr. Dawon said that he is lucky to avoid the boredom of teaching the same subject over and over again. He majored in economics in college, and computer science became part of his career somewhat unexpectedly when he stepped in when no one else wanted to teach.
Before arriving at RHS, he spent six years teaching math and computer science at Leonia High School. He later taught math, computer science, and economics at Wayne Hills High School for about seven years. It was there that his economics teaching journey truly began. When more than 30 students signed up for AP Economics and no teacher was available, he volunteered. Among all the subjects he teaches, economics holds a special place. Its relevance to current events and everyday life makes it especially engaging. Concepts like interest rates, monetary policy, and economic trends are not just test material but they are tools students will use throughout their lives.
He feels rewarded when a graduate comes back and tells him how much they value his teaching. Specifically, his former students said he helped them in college, internships, or careers. One of his recent graduates even emailed him to say how excited she was to apply economic concepts she learned in class during her internship. Moments like these remind him that what happens in the classroom can have lasting impact.
His versatility does not stop at academic subjects. Outside the classroom, he is a talented athlete, playing basketball and tennis. He is currently the junior varsity tennis coach at RHS. Asked what his most memorable school moments are, he proudly shared about a student–faculty basketball game early in his career, and stated in a chuckle that “back then I was still young and I was still better than all the kids on the basketball team. So that was fun just to humble some children. But yeah, that’s what stands out to me.”