Making AP Physics fun: Naperville Central teacher brings energy to his classroom

As he launches into a review for students in his AP Physics 1 class at Naperville Central High School, Andreas Damianides grabs his chair and pushes it across the room.

Then he starts his questions about friction and velocity. Once he’s done, students get to work on solving problems Damianides has posted around the classroom.

As students work, Damianides walks around the room, stopping to check work and answer questions.

His energy and passion for the subject are hard to miss as he makes his rounds.

“He works real hard to make the physics applicable and relatable,” Naperville Central High School Principal Jackie Thornton said of Damianides. “He works very hard to make sure it’s something students can see and feel. They know that physics is around them.”

A 2007 graduate of Naperville North High School, Damianides began his teaching career in 2012, teaching science courses at Westmont High School, then moving to St. Charles North High School in 2015. He returned to Naperville District 203 in 2023 and has been at Naperville Central High School since.

Damianides, who also coaches Central’s Science Olympiad team, says a few of his own high school teachers at Naperville North influenced him to get into teaching science.

“I had some great science teachers,” he said, adding he enjoyed being able to come back to Naperville District 203 to work with some of them.

While physics — let alone Advanced Placement Physics courses — can be an intimidating subject, Damianides says he tries to get students to see they can do the hard stuff.

That means listening, making the subject matter relatable and letting students know that failure is an aspect of learning.

When students come to him thinking they’re doing something wrong because they are working hard but still struggling, he listens and agrees that it can be hard work. Realizing the value of sticking with something that can be difficult is a life skill that Damianides says will stick with his students long after they leave his classroom.

Students in his class don’t hesitate to say the course can be challenging, but many of them said they took it specifically because of the teacher.

“He will make you think and not leave you until you understand,” said Divam Chikara, a junior in Damianides’ AP Physics class.

Students said the visual examples — like pushing the chair or the bicycle wheel he keeps in class to illustrate concepts — helps bring the subject matter to life. His energy and humor — on display throughout class and in the review questions he posts on the wall — keeps them engaged.

“He makes you want to pay attention,” Naperville Central junior Abigail Song said. “Even though a lot of us don’t care about physics, he makes us care about physics. It’s not just like another class.”

Although he leads the classroom, Damianides says he hasn’t stopped learning from other teachers.

“There’s so many people to learn from,” he said, adding that finding colleagues who he trusted and who shared similar approaches to teaching has helped him find success in the classroom. “There’s so many incredible teachers out there who do such an incredible job.”

Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for the Daily Herald.

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Curriculum vitae

Andreas Damianides

Education:

• Naperville North High School, 2007

• University of Iowa, 2012 (BS in Science Education)

• North Central College, 2018 (Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction)

• National Board Certification, 2023

Work experience:

• Westmont High School, 2012-2015 (taught Earth Science, Physical Science, Honors Chemistry and Biology)

• St. Charles North High School, 2015-2023 (taught AP Physics 1 and Physics)

• Naperville Central High School, 2023-Present (taught AP Physics 1 and Chemistry)

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Tips from a top teacher

1. Never stop finding new things to do in class.

2. Experience is the best teacher.

3. Don’t confuse a clear explanation for a learned lesson.

4. Minds on is often more important than hands on, but both is best!

5. Mistakes are proof that you — and your students — are trying.

― Andreas Damianides, Naperville Central High School