Charles Stark

Presenter:  Eric Moats

This educator is truly an icon in the history of the Revere Local School District.  His dedication to his work, colleagues, staff, and students is beyond a doubt worthy of this award.  A long time has passed since he was hired in 1972.  Ever since his first day here he has continued to stimulate the scientific thoughts and ideas of hundreds of Revere students.  He has influenced their minds in the classroom as well as outside  of the classroom in areas such as the Science Olympiad and as chairperson of the Mentorship Program.  He has guided many of the Revere staff as chairperson of the Science Department.  He has given even more of his time to be an adviser to Student Government, the Scholastic Fair and Student Council.  There is more!  His natural ability toward teaching spilled over to the baseball field for a few years.  He strove for perfection on the field just like the classroom.  Every player knew exactly when their level of perfection was a strike right down the middle of the plate or when it was high and outside.  He would convey his discontent, many times unfortunately, to us without saying a word.  You just got “the look” and knew your road to perfection had hit a bump in the base path and you better change it quickly.

I received a resounding fax from his former neighbor, Sir Isaac Newton, praising his induction.  He knew a long time ago, when his inductee was a young lad, he would be involved in science when he asked, “If you say gravity pulls us down then how does a tree grow up?”  This inquiring mind led him to become one of Revere's foremost inventors.  Many, many years requiring hundreds of student hours and brain cells have been put to the question of “Just what the heck is Sludge?”  (I really think he doesn’t remember what he put in the Sludge.)  He’s used his students to figure it out all this time.  I remember his reaction to my Sludge project.  After adding drops of iodine, sodium, and some other chemicals, the solution solidified.  My lab partner and I were at a loss.  When we took it to Mr. Stark his response was, “What the heck is this?  I didn’t put that in there.”  I don’t think we ever figured it out.  Anyway, “Susie and Verne” thought they were on to your Sludge secret after their cardboard boat project sank in the pond behind the West Reserve Playhouse.  But they found out that slime in their hair is not the same as Sludge!   He knows how to lighten up a subject to keep the students from going off the deep end by talking to his tie once in awhile.

Putting all of this effort into your students and career may have taken you away from your family more than you would like.  But you did find ways to bring them into your classroom.  For instance, there was one science test question that involved your son, Doug.  Evidently, we were supposed to calculate the density at his Donnie and Marie poster.

When I received your confirmation letter, Mr. Stark, you gave me a little chuckle.  The answer to your question is....  No, you really don't have to be dead or retired to receive this award.

   Distinguished Educator Recipients Homepage          Curriculum Vitae