Mr. Stickley taught me chemistry and TOK in Highschool (including IB). He consistently encouraged us students to ask questions and always gave enlightening in depth answers! Mr. Stickley was an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher with a sense of humour! Yet he was very commited to teaching and took us students and our learning seriously. The feedback I was given, for instance on my lab reports, was always very detailed and constructive, and really helped me to improve. I felt that Mr. Stickley genuinely cared about us as his students. He would happily give up additional time to help us learn. If there was an issue that we as a class wanted to go over, he would gladly change the lesson plan to accommodate our needs. Similarly, Mr. Stickley readily provided me with invaluable extra help and tuition in Chemistry when I needed it. Thank you Mr Stickley! J. (Medicine) Testimonial:Gregory Stickley Gregory Stickley was my form tutor and physics and chemistry teacher from 1991-1996. I remember him as an inspirational teacher for several reasons. Firstly he was able to recognise my enthusiasm for science and encourage me to ask questions and look for answers in a systematic way, skills which lead me to go on to study Physics at Imperial College. Secondly, although he ensured I had a good understanding of the curriculum, he went beyond this in encouraging me to read about the foundations and philosophy of science, recommending books and articles which seemed advanced for me but formed the basis of my continuing interest in the subject. Mr Stickley taught with offbeat humour and an intellectually challenging style which I remember fondly. In the course of my work and my social life I like to test the ideas and assumptions of others through questioning and lively debate, a style which has lead to novel solutions throughout my working life. I am sure I first learnt this skill by observing and debating with Mr Stickley. As a tutor he believes in the welfare and personal development of his students, and as well as his teaching I remember the kindness and guidance he showed me through difficult times. Out of all my teachers, he is the one I will never forget! John Clifford, Douay Martyrs School, Ickenham, 1991-1996. (GCSE grades A*,A*, A in Physics, Chemistry & Biology.) Mr. Stickley was my teacher for three years, in Chemistry and in Theory of Knowledge. He played a big part in my development intellectually both inside and outside of the classroom. He was a firm and demanding teacher, but always kept the students interests first in his heart and mind, always ready and willing to write a recommendation for university or pull someone aside after class to make sure they were doing alright. Thanks Mr. Stickley! -Alex Koenig (Harvard) Well, what can a student say about Mr. Stickley: he is the rare teacher students can be proud to meet. A teacher of the natural sciences, but very much a teacher of the science of life. He can be found in the fondest places of his former students memories. A man of principles and ideas that students will be likely to carry much further with them than the mere schooltime period. I know of students who have turned to him in much later stages in life(university and beyond) for his opinion and carefully dispensed advice- I know I have! He is the most open minded educationalist I have come across during my education all over the world, who can bring across a proper education with his wide range of pedagogue skills and experience. I dearly hope he still teaches when my children grow up. Philipp von Gordon Mr. Stickley is a great teacher, who not only brings knowledge, but also fun and enthusiasm to the classroom. He explains topics thoroughly, in a way that engages the student. The required topics are definitely covered, but there is also always room for discussions on interesting topics that promote overall intellectuality. Leaving a lesson without understanding something is not really an option. Mr. Stickley makes sure that something is really understood before moving on. Also, he shows an understanding of what students tend to find difficult and understands how to make these things more clear. Students who are generally interested in and inspired by knowledge issues will have fun learning and students who do not necessarily feel an urge to acquire knowledge will probably find that that will change. M.B.D.V. Gregory Stickley has been my teacher throughout the better part of my secondary school education at Berlin Brandenburg International school. During this five year period he taught me physics and chemistry for International GCSEs, chemistry at a higher level for IB and also accompanied my educational experience as my homeroom teacher. When I first arrived at his class-room as an international student, I had to, in Gregory's words: 'learn a foreign language, using a foreign language'. The latter being English, and the former being the scientific language. Greg not only taught me that language, but incited in me true passion for this subject. I was not the best disciplined student when I was younger. While my other teachers didn’t respond (or rather: responded badly) to my spirited behavior, Greg embraced the challenge and encouraged me to direct this energy as a form of curiosity and ask endless questions, to which he has always answered wholly and effectively. Greg was always prepared to run that extra mile for his students and his devotion further strengthened my confidence in class. Along his effect on my attitude toward learning, his efforts resulted directly in my high motivation and academic achievements, and ultimately played a role in my choice of profession. I can appreciate retrospectively the value of what Gregory Stickley has given me. I will finish with a quote from an email I sent Greg a year ago when I just started my training as a student of medicine, 4 years after graduating from high-school: "…I must say i have been thanking you mentally all this time.... Firstly, my knowledge of chemistry remained quite strong after all those years, and I've been able to extensively help my fellow students. I owe much of this to you. Second, thank you for insisting on teaching us organic chemistry… I am realizing how cardinal it is, and it's unbelievable work for students who never encountered this field. To sum up, us students don't realize how well we have been taught until we put it in comparison to others, but now that I do - thanks for taking care of our education like you did. It's an asset for life." Shelly Kagan, Class 2005 at BBIS. Second year student of medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Gregory Stickley taught me in secondary school, in science, from 1991 to 1996. He is a good teacher; he is firm but fair, also he is good at making learning fun, and more understandable for those who are struggling with their learning, I have dyslexia, Mr stickley made my science lessons good, with helping me see or say things in a different way that I could understand, which put me at ease, and made learning enjoyable, as did his good sense of humour in the classroom. As you know you don't have the same teachers throughout your secondary school life, you have different teachers etc, even though he wasn't your science teacher for that year, and he was walking through the corridors on his breaks or lunch break, and you were pondering on a question or questions you had in science, or were questions you needed help with understanding for your homework, he would make the time to help, if I had the choice in secondary school who can teach me in subjects etc, I would of definitely have had Mr Stickley as my science teacher throughout my whole secondary school life! Still being in touch with him now I am still learning things from him! Thanks Mr Stickley! Susan Roden - Douay Martyrs School Ickenham Middlesex. 1991 - 1996. Mr. Gregory Stickley has taught me for numerous years. I have had the pleasure to learn chemistry and TOK with him and he has supported me during my Personal Project, which is mandatory during the MYP program. I enjoyed the enthusiastic and motivated approach, which ultimately allowed me to manage my IB diploma. Mr. Stickley was able to teach the subject matter in a humorous, yet demanding and sophisticated way, always checking upon the individual and how much is understood. He offered much help in case something was not clear; sacrificing lunch breaks and free time. I had a great time, thank you! D.H. Mr Stickley taught me chemistry and physics in my first couple of years of secondary school, some twenty years ago. I remember being struck (not physically, obviously - we are not THAT old), and dare I say a liitle scared when first being met with this incredibly tall, very serious looking figure as he swept into the lab and onto the slightly raised platform behind a HUGE desk/workbench, staring down at all us little lost 11 year olds. i suppose as a teacher you would quite like to have such a commanding presence (especially having to teach such an unruly class as mine happened to be) - and that is what Mr Stickley has in abundance - presence. To be fair I don't think I made a very easy student, as I found the subjects difficult to begin with. Chemistry I soon came to enjoy, and went on years later to do fairly well at GCSE level. Physics, however, never made sense to me - ridiculous when you consider how logical it is, but maths and I also had the same relationship - so I know I did not apply myself as well as I could have. This never stopped Mr Stickley trying though, he treated all students equally and fairly, and encouraged us to question what we were doing, how we were doing it and why. Just because your answer to something differed from that offered from your peers, it was not necessarily wrong - you were just looking at it in a different way. Or, if you were wrong, that was okay, as Mr Stickley would take the time to explain how or why it was so, and again through encouragement get you to look again at your methodology to see how it could be done differently. There was also definitely a hint of a dry sense of humour in his lessons, sometimes too subtle for some of those around me to notice, but whether I showed it or not I did appreciate it, it very much appeals to my own sense of humour - it is much easier to say that now than at age 11 when one is so terrified of being seen as 'different' from their friends! So, Mr Stickley, your teaching and your wit certainly struck a chord with me, and it is with pleasure that I write this testimonial for you, to show my appreciation for you as an excellent teacher. K(M)O'R. Testimonial Educator. Role model. Mentor. Friend. Mr. Stickley was more than a teacher. He was all of the above. Mr. Stickley taught me Physics as well as International Baccalaureate Chemistry and Theory of Knowledge while I was in high-school at the Berlin Brandenburg International School in Berlin, Germany. Currently finishing up my university career at Wharton at the Univerity of Pennsylvania in the USA, I can say, without a doubt, that Mr. Stickley was one of the most influential instructors I have had the privilege to learn from in my sixteen years as a student. With confidence I can recommend him to teach students in any capacity. Mr. Stickley’s greatest asset was his ability to synthesize course material in such a way that students hailing from a wide range of educational backgrounds and possessing varying intellectual abilities were all able to easily comprehend and absorb what was being taught. He possessed the facility to both instill confidence in students who found themselves discouraged as well humble those more advanced learners by presenting them with additional challenges. Mr. Stickley encouraged students to ask questions and learn at their own pace. To this end he always made himself available and accessible to students both in and out of the classroom. Mr. Stickley is also a life-learner and, as such, proves a tremendous role model for his students in that his relentless curiosity rubs off on his students who, as a result, are always seeking out new knowledge and greater challenges. Consequently, Mr. Stickley can be described as a molder of strong, curious minds. All pupils who learn under Mr. Stickley will graduate enriched thinkers. But what they will also gain is a lifelong friend. Mr. Stickley genuinely cares about each of his students and therefore makes an effort to be and stay involved in their lives. Several years after I graduated I returned to Berlin and met up with Mr. Stickley. It was as if I had never left. Within a few minutes we were having an interesting conversation akin to the ones we previously enjoyed in our Theory of Knowledge class together. Mr. Stickley is a wonderful teacher and friend who enables his students to enter the real-world well-informed, educated and eager to leave a lasting impact on the planet. A.F. Penn. U. Gregory Stickley taught me IGCSE chemistry. During class he would find individual ways to make sure the each student would understand the subject learned. he would also make sure that every student stayed interested in class buy adding humor, and little personal anecdotes that personalized the whole learning process. Gregory Stickley wasn't only a teacher in the class room, he is a life long teacher that anyone would be lucky to have. He helped me realize my direction in life, even though they were far away from science. He keeps in touch with his students and is very interested in how they are doing in life and still keeps giving advise years after we have left his class. Gregory Stickley is one of the rare teachers that truly care about the student in every way, he enriches his students with knowledge in any given subject and encourages his students to think and be creative, to open their minds and dare to be great. I believe that Mr. Stickley shall forever be one of the most memorable teachers i've had, and I am grateful for having the opportunity to be his student. Hilla Marom, Israel Gregory Stickley was my Higher Level chemistry teacher and TOK teacher for 2 years, and also responsible for the program for all the students in my grade for the final year of our International Baccalaureate, taken in Berlin from 1998 to 2000. He helped me attain a strong grade in a subject that wasn't my strength at first sight, and also a subject in which I only had a small knowledge. he was very patient with me, and dedicated to my success by constantly and intensively tutoring me inside and outside the class, and taking me under his wing for the entire 2 years. He is an incredibly gifted teacher and tutor, with strong knowledge of the topics he was teaching, and well above average teaching skills. He is very dedicated to his work, and was always available in class, and also outside, for questions and further explanations on topics included in the courses, but also for extra-curricular activities. He is on top of his subjects, and has a vision and understanding of the subject, that strongly help the student to comprehend, but also to advance and master the subjects given in class. He also possesses great communication skills and personality which makes it particularly easy and pleasant for the student to listen to the teacher and learn from him. I was lucky enough to also have him as a guitar teacher for my community work, and became a good and close friend over the years. Even though I did not further study in chemistry, he was of great influence to me on the subject, but also in life in general, as I still recall some of the knowledge he passed on to me, event more then 10 years later. Definitely one of the best teachers and mentors I had the pleasure to have in my long academic life. He was of great help to succeed in the IB, and also dedicated to his students in their understanding of the subjects, preparation to exams and advancement in life. He also was a great influence in the years following my studies with him, as a friend, but also by giving me strong advice for my career and life in general, as I am still very close to the individual. I strongly recommend Gregory as a very gifted and successful teacher, mentor and friend. He is a force that can be of great help and influence on the students and people around him, and a dedicated and very professional teacher and tutor. All combined make him a strong candidate in any give situation. Sincerely, Benoit Simoneau 'Gregory Stickley helped me pass my IGCSE exams, which can be considered a miracle since I was unfortunately not very gifted in the art of throwing chemicals together in order to make things explode... Hence I am probably not the best person on this list to judge his technical skills and knowledge, but I do believe the credentials and extensive experience speak for themselves. Technical expertise goes a long way; however, as a teacher it is vital to connect with one's students and Mr. Stickley did just that. What I do remember the most from my chemistry classes were the open-mindedness, sense of humour and heartfelt passion about the subject that he brought along to keep me on the ball, and the people skills that made sure he connected with all the individuals in our class, making sure no-one (i.e. me!) got left behind. In short, I believe an overdue thank you is in order here; Thank you, Mr Stickley, for all your dedication, patience, and compassion over the years and wish you all the best in your future endeavours.' Alex H.
I have known Mr Gregory Stickley for over 10 years. I first met him in Germany when I first started in an International School in Berlin, Germany. When I first met him, he was teaching science to my grade and his presence was very strong when he first entered the class room. He had a fantastic vibe and great attitude when introducing himself to the class and enticing us in the topic of the day and what to look forward to. As the years went by I got to know Mr Gregory Stickley better and eventually as my grade became one of the largest in the school at that time, became my shadow homeroom teacher, then later, my homeroom teacher. I witnessed many extra curriculum lessons that Mr Gregory Stickley took part in, from a solid fuel propulsion experiments to music project. He encouraged my brother to further involve himself in his test with his propulsion experiments which had left many students at the time excited at the aspect of what they can learn and do. Personally, knowing Mr Gregory Stickley began when I first got involved with music. He did many music projects throughout the years I was at school. This started off with break time and after school projects which eventually lead to school bands , concerts and performances. I still play to this very day the bass guitar thanks to him. Mr Gregory Stickley had an excellent an unique way of teaching every class he was in. His themes and structures in class developed in such away that made progress easy in class. Whenever there was an issue in a topic he’d make sure that any individual student could find their feet quickly and keep progressing at a level that suited them. Not only was he a great teacher but after graduation he has kept in touch with many students. He is one of those teachers who cares of the wellbeing of his previous students and how we have got on in life. Always showing us the humour in life and that there’s always a bright side to things. He will always be a great teacher to me, and now, a fantastic friend. Matt Bailey Mr. Stickley was my Chemistry teacher during the year I took my IGCSEs. I arrived in his class half way through the school year without any prior knowledge of Chemistry. With only a few months to prepare for the exam, Mr. Stickley managed to get me through the entire Chemistry syllabus. Not only did I pass the exam (B), I am now (a decade and a half later…) a researcher in Chemical Physics at Imperial College London. I was very fortunate to have had the chance to study under Mr. Stickley, without whom I would probably not have thought of embarking on a career in Science. I remember him fondly as a knowledgeable, patient and caring teacher with an enthusiastic and lively teaching style. In fact, I often find myself trying to mimic Mr. Stickley’s style when teaching our undergraduate students. During my 6th form, he was our homeroom tutor. School-life would have been far less exciting without Mr. Stickley. I have a vivid memory of him playing “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Stones at a school festival, strumming a guitar and wearing dark sunglasses (indoors). I’m sure his “work hard, play hard” approach to school life will be sorely missed in classrooms. I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Stickley as a fantastic tutor and teacher, and wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor. S. |