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Jon Derek Larson - Testimonials about the President of TAO Education

A testimonial from Derek Larson's former supervisor:

A testimonial from a former teaching colleague:

17 February 1998

LETTER OF REFERENCE FOR DEREK LARSON

San Francisco University High School

"If I were asked to choose a Dream Team of young teachers from among the 1,800 or so students I have taught at University High School in the past eighteen years, Derek Larson would head the list. I have known Derek since 1981, when he was a tenth grader in Western Civilization: History of the Arts, a team-taught course in which I taught the music history component. I have known him as a student, as a teaching colleague, as a fellow member of the Admissions Committee, as a Class Dean, and as a personal friend. I have witnessed the profound effect he has had in changing the lives of his students and the whole school culture through the development of the Outdoor Education program, and have seen few other faculty members who are held in as high regard by their colleagues.

In our years together on the Admissions Committee, I have seen Derek discern a positive personal quality in an applicant which was overlooked by other readers; his interview reports reveal a gift for making genuine connections with students, as well as his gentle ability to unmask pretension and artifice. His quiet insights served as an anchor of integrity in our deliberations, and he gave eloquent voice to worthy candidates who might otherwise have been excluded from consideration.

Derek was an immensely popular teacher, yet he showed uncommon maturity in resisting the lure of popularity which so often compromises the judgment of young teachers. He took the safety and well-being of his students very seriously, and though he was a friend and confidant to many students, he never confused his role with that of a peer; he was an adult who accepted his adult role responsibly and consistently. The only shortcoming that comes to mind about his work was his reluctance to carve out sufficient time for himself--a tendency to accept obligations out of a generosity of spirit and concern, despite the physical and mental drain they presented. He also has an admirably low tolerance for manipulation, political maneuvering, and social climbing; I know few who are as principled and straightforward in dealing with colleagues, parents, and students.

I have seen Derek speak candidly and revealingly to a hushed room of 100 sophomores about the alienation and self-doubts he had at their age as a student at their school; for many this was a pivotal experience which initiated life-changing (and potentially life-saving) conversations. Though basically quite a reserved and private person, he was willing to set aside his privacy in order to reach out to students who were facing similar crises.

Having taken a first-aid class from Derek, I can also attest that he is a first-rate teacher: engaging, informative, funny, and dynamic. Further proof of his effectiveness as a teacher was seen each spring, as upper division students jockeyed for a coveted place on his class roster for the following year. He is a committed learner, literate, articulate, intellectually curious, multi-talented, and an exceptional role model. He has a spiritual "center" and a personal integrity which is accepting, non judgmental, and delightfully self-deprecating at times.

My thesaurus of superlatives runs out when it comes to Derek Larson. He heads my list of alumni who best reflect the highest personal and intellectual qualities valued by University High School. Though those of us who have taught him and with him might like to take some credit, in the end, it is he who brings credit to us and to our profession. And the chance that another of his ilk may come this way again may keep us teaching for another twenty years.

Yours sincerely,

Bruce A. Lamott, Ph.D.
Director, Music Program

A testimonial from a former student:

" I'm proud of doing Outdoor Ed. I'm proud of being able to give up a weekend of homework to go rock climbing in Yosemite or to bathe in hot springs, and anyone else should be, too. The Outdoor Ed. program at UHS is a combination of wonderful and useful things I find to be a good break from academic, parental, or peer pressure. You get to meet great people, some your good friends, others you wouldn't normally meet at school, both really interesting to talk to and experience the same things with whether it be bathroom trips, cooking, singing, driving, paddling, sharing a tent with or covering their face with chocolate frosting. By the end of the trip, you often feel like you've gotten to know them better than in any other circumstances and created a lot of inside jokes you can exchange later at school.

"If you like being by yourself, there's always a great view which seems surreal after being in the city for a long time; it's incredible to photograph or paint. You can watch the sunset and feel like you're on top of the world. When I'm on a trip, I feel great emotionally, and physical exercise definitely adds to that along with nature. It's the kind of exercise where there's no competition or pressure, maybe only to overcome your own fears like the fear of heights. I think that makes you a stronger person. It's a challenge but with no competition. Some incidents make you laugh at yourself as well as bond with the others.

"You learn skills that you otherwise wouldn't have the money or the experience to learn. Most of the trips I went on I'd find hard to organize myself. I'd have to deal with permits, climbing equipment, rafting supplies, safety issues, etc. On a school trip, I was never put in a situation where I had to worry about my own safety. Neither was there a moment when I didn't have a person to support me if I'm tired or help me out with setting up a tent, packing, or lending a spare sweater.

"Comfortable with the outdoor environment, I'm more relaxed with people of different grades and the teachers, especially when everyone sits around the fire, a couple of people playing the guitar, sharing their experiences, or telling stories. The van ride, staying overnight in a motel, taking our first shower after a trip, cooking, or stopping in a small town to buy dinner all adds to the feeling. From the five trips that I went on this year there's nothing that I regret, except maybe not being able to stay longer. "

-- Jane Shamaeva

Derek's Teaching Resume

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