Twenty-Five Questions with Beth Chase
March 15, 2022
In the following article, Senior staff writer Olivia Book asks Beth Chase, the Academy’s very own American history and economics teacher, twenty-five questions that dive a little deeper into her hot takes and experiences here as a teacher.
Chase has long been a member of the Academy community and has become a well recognized and loved face in the halls, but do you know her as well as you think?
Please note that O refers to questions asked by Book and B refers to Chase’s response.
O- When did you start working at the Academy?
B- “I started working in 1994”
O- After you leave school, what is the first thing you do?
B- “I usually say hello to my husband, pat the dog, you know make sure that everything is cleaned up- the usual”
O- What does a perfect weekend look like to you?
B- “I don’t know, spending it with my family. I like to go out and shop for antiques and things like that too.”
O- Where did you grow up?
B- “I was born in Salem Massachusetts and I grew up in Peabody which is the next city over. I went to Bishop Fenwick High School, in Peabody, where I also taught for years.”
O- Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
B- “Um, sometimes both. I mean- a lot of people won’t teach economics so a lot of times I’m just independent. But, when I am teaching history and things like that I work as a team with the Academy and the other faculty members.”
O- Which song best sums up your personality?
B- “Well, my favorite song is Respect by Aretha Franklin, I just love the way she belts that out.”
O- If you could travel anywhere, where would you travel?
B- “I really don’t have a desire to travel anywhere. I know that sounds odd, but my husband has been to many different places and yeah, even in high school he went to Switzerland to ski and stuff like that, but for me, maybe just back to Maine. I like it local, just to see the ‘maineiacs’ as we call them.”
O- Does your life have a “motto”?
B- “Always do the right thing, you will never regret it. No regrets ever if you do the right thing.”
O- What is the last movie you went to, was it good?
B- “I don’t watch movies- I worked in the movie theater when I was in college, I was head candy girl, so I have had enough of them!”
O- What’s your biggest pet peeve
B- “My biggest pet peeve I guess is when people are disrespectful to others. You know- treat everyone with kindness and respect.”
This month we’re turning our attention to the value…#responsibility #accountability #helpothers pic.twitter.com/24gD8XP37A
— Choose To Be Nice (@ChooseToBeNice) February 1, 2022
O- What is the best gift that you have ever received?
B- “I suppose it’s my children, my little boys.”
O- What’s your favorite holiday?
B- “Well Flag Day, that was the day I was born! God Bless America.”
O- Is your glass half full, or half empty?
B- “Half full, all of the time.”
O- Is there any trend that you wish would come back in style?
B- “Yeah- shoulder pads baby! Everybody knows that! They just make your clothes hang straighter, just think about all mens suits, what do you think they have in them? Huge shoulder pads!”
O- What’s the most unusual thing you have eaten?
B- “I am very finicky with what I eat, so I don’t eat a lot of crazy things. I know this doesn’t sound crazy, but fried clams were a big thing for me.”
O- If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
B- “Better do the right thing by me, or I’ll go after you!”
O- Where do you see yourself in ten years?
B- “I guess I will retire by then. It’s hard for me because I am a very social person and like being busy so I guess we will see!”
O- Which celebrity would you like to take to Starbucks?
B- “I would probably take Barack Obama. I would like to hear his perspective of things.”
O- What was your hobby in high school?
B- “Working at the movies really- I had a part time job and basically everyone had a job in my school at that time.”
O- Do you collect anything?
B- “Yes- I collect antiques. A great place to get them is in Massachusetts because they have been around forever and my husband’s aunt was an antique dealer there and so she would call me whenever something came in and I would run over and pick it up.”
O- Who is the most intelligent person you know?
B- “My father-in-law. He had an extremely high IQ and he read three or four books a week. He would analyze things all of the time.”
O- Do you have any nicknames?
B- “Well my husband does call me General Patton. It is a ‘Chaseocracy’ and we do have an official sign!”
O- What is one thing that you will never do again?
B- “I don’t really have anything I wouldn’t do again. I don’t really have any regrets, if you always try and do the right thing you will be happy with your choices.”
O- What was your favorite job?
B- “My favorite job is obviously teaching. This is my forty-third year of teaching!”
O- Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
B- “I have been called a witch before! I am 100% Irish.”