David Quarefoot, who has taught for seven years at Choate, is leaving at the end of this year. PHOTO/Contributed by David quarefoot

Beloved teacher David Quarfoot announced in an email to his students last week that he will not return to Choate after the 2007-2008 academic year ends.

Mr. Quarfoot, known to adults and to students as “DQ,” has taught in the Math and Computer Science departments at Choate for seven years. During this tenure he has generated a sort of mystique among the Choate population for his clever wit and biting honesty, as well as developing a cult following, a veritable “think tank” of some of the school’s most brilliant students, past and present.

After graduating from Ohio State University in 2001, Mr. Quarfoot decided not pursue medical school in order to follow his true passion—teaching. He says that he had always wanted to teach because “I enjoy the feeling I get out of it. Philosophically, I enjoy doing something good for society, pushing society forward in a very positive way.”

He looked at several other private schools, but very quickly decided on Choate, because it was apparent to him that this institution stood out from all the rest. He didn’t want to teach in an inferno of hyper-driven, stressed out academic workhorses, but rather a community of well-rounded people. He describes his first impressions of Choate: “it was much more balanced. Kids here are a lot happier, there’s a greater focus on the arts, and the faculty treat you nicer.”

Over his seven years at Choate, DQ has taught advanced math courses like Honors Trigonometry and BC Calculus. Perhaps more importantly, he is responsible for creating one of the most advanced computer science programs in the country. At the top is the class 3D Graphics and Video Game Design, in which six pupils are currently working far above the level of most high school computer science classes. Thanks to this program, many students have not only found a new passion for programming but also discovered their talents for it: “These kids knew nothing of computer science walking in the door, and walked out of Choate saying ‘this is what I want to do with the rest of my life.’” With DQ’s departure, the fate of this class and of the program as a whole is uncertain.

At the moment, DQ looks forward to the rest of the year, during which he plans to make a legitimate video game with his class. DQ has enormous confidence in his group—“6 spectacular Blue Chip computer science kids who don’t even realize how powerful they are.” He looks forward to the experience of “a truly collaborative project where they have complete control. That’s going to be, I think, one of the crowning moments of their Choate careers.”

As well as teaching, DQ pursues many extra-curricular activities and plays an active role in the Choate community. He is the adviser in the senior boys’ dorm Pratt House, and coaches Intramural Rock-Climbing on weekday afternoons. As an outdoorsman, he is a fierce snowboarder. In his free time he solves and writes crossword puzzles, over twenty of which have appeared in the New York Times. Finally, he plays the violin and is a classical music buff. As a violinist he has played in each year’s Spring Musical, which he calls “one of the best things Choate has and one of the top 10 programs in the country.” He plans to perform one more time for this year’s show, No, No, Nanette.

While his future is uncertain—he has applied to positions in several schools across the country and expects to have a destination in about a month—he takes time to reflect not just on his effect that he has had on the school, but also the effect the school has had on him. “This place has taught me a lot of balance. When I came here, I knew nothing but how to be an academic machine, and now I think I understand what it means to be a human being.” In addition, DQ stressed the experience rather than the legacy of Choate: “The important thing is what you lived through. All these people have an impact on you, and that’s what matters.”