What is an interesting fact about yourself?

I do accents and languages for fun. I can communicate with various levels of ability in English, Latin, Spanish, French, and bits of Japanese, German and Koine Greek – all still in progress.

What is the best part about teaching?

When I worked in software development, I wound up using my coworker’s whiteboards to teach them random and unrelated things that I found interesting. I love sharing knowledge.

What is your favorite part about teaching your subject?

I enjoy the application of recurring historical themes and trends toward the understanding of our modern social and electoral dynamics.

Do you have any interesting, funny moments from teaching this year?

I’m somewhat of a klutz, so I routinely almost trip while up front, but I haven’t gone, yet. I can also give a whole lecture in a pretty passable Irish accent.

Do you have any advice for your students?

Be curious. Be interested. Be nerdy. Always seek to understand everything around you and develop mental models for visualizing and understanding the way things work. In the end, with all the money in the world, the only thing you won’t be bored by is something new. Most importantly, in any given situation, assume you’re wrong until you can prove yourself right. Be humble.

If you could time travel back to one era in history, what would it be and why?

I would have to say either Republican Rome, between the second Punic War and the Marian Reforms, or during the Golden Age of Constantinople after Justinian calms things down. Now, if I get to go back and fix things, that’s a different question with a whole different list of answers.

What would you have done with $1 billion from the Powerball lottery?

I would buy a private estate, build five or six nice houses on it and then invite my family and friends to come live there and not have to work. There would probably also be fortifications involved because who wouldn’t want to be able to defend their home as though it were the 1400’s?

“Mr. Cherry provides a learning environment that is both interesting and educational. His vast knowledge of history provides his students with a foundation they need to do well on the AP exam.” – Chandler Trosclair, junior

“Mr. Cherry makes the class interesting while not neglecting lessons–I leave class every day feeling like I’ve been simultaneously educated and entertained.” – Alec Carr, junior

“Mr. Cherry is just the type of person who can connect with students and who is always ready to answer questions. Even with a zero-hour class he comes in early to talk to students who come early and is always there for students to talk about anything.” – Sanya Rehman, junior