Gilroyan teacher vying for Mt. Madonna funds

Gilroyan Rick Charvet wants to help local at-risk students when they’re down and out.
Charvet is one of five finalists for Comcast SportsNet’s All-Star Teacher of 2014 and could bring $20,000 home to the Mt. Madonna Continuation High School AdvancePath Academy.
The 54-year-old is dreaming up ways to use the funds and plans to rent or buy a 15-passenger van, get school supplies and provide scholarships and ways to help the families of some of his students when they are “down and out.”
Representing Gilroy
Now that the five finalists were chosen, community members are being asked to pick the finalist American Idol-style with their vote.
“Mr. Charvet is amazing, I wouldn’t have graduated high school if it hadn’t been for him. I know many others can say the same. He is an inspiration to students and teachers alike!” wrote former student Blaine Hyland in a comment under Charvet’s biography on the Comcast website.
Hyland isn’t the only one in favor of handing the Gilroy teacher the competition’s top award.
“I knew he should have been a finalist. I think I was pleasantly surprised that they recognized it, too,” said Mt. Madonna Principal Jennifer Del Bono. “I just would really hope the community gets onboard with this because he’s representing Gilroy.”
Charvet history
Charvet has taught in the Gilroy Unified School District for at least 23 years, including 14 years at Mt. Madonna, where he became the Lead Teacher of the AdvancePath Academy earlier this year.
“All the kids sent here are kids that pretty much haven’t made it at the comprehensive high school,” said Charvet. “We have a lot of really good kids—bright kids—but they have to be taught in a different way.”
The AdvancePath Academy falls under the umbrella of Mt. Madonna and serves 100 at-risk students by allowing them to complete credits towards a high school degree through online courses. The students sit in front of their computers in a classroom at Gilroy High School, where three teachers—including Charvet—guide students through the basic school subjects.
For Charvet, the focus is as much teaching that character counts as it is about teaching subjects such as math, English and history.
“The academic part is to get them to where they’re supposed to be. I always tell them, ‘This isn’t the final chapter. This is to get you to where you’re supposed to be,’ ” said Charvet.
He works to broaden the student’s ideas of where they could go in the future, introducing them to trade schools, community colleges and off the beaten path careers that might fit their personalities and skill sets.
Moment of zen
While the school’s motto is “whatever it takes,” Charvet’s is “don’t ever let anyone tell you can’t do what you want to do.”
Charvet continues to mentor students by giving them his cell phone number and email address.
“My principal referred to me as a life coach, so that’s a good term. I think another kid said the same thing,” said Charvet.
In keeping with his goal to teach character along with academics, Charvet closes each class with a “moment of zen,” sharing motivational quotes and personal stories to encourage his students to strive for success.
Multimedia artist
An artist of many mediums—including paint, cardboard and metal—Charvet has spent a long time crafting something from nothing.
“You give me cardboard, I’ll make something out of cardboard,” Charvet said. “I just see things, and I turn things into art.”
And it’s that kind of vision that Charvet applies to his at-risk students in Gilroy.
“I make things new again—it kind of coincides with how I work with the kids. I always see things that I can make new again or turn into something new.”
Becoming a finalist in the competition was “not a ‘me’ thing, but a ‘we’ thing,” Charvet said.
“I think it’s a really great thing that I’m representing Gilroy. Everyone from my parents to my wife to my kindergarten teacher has made me who I am and given me the opportunity to do what I do,” he said. I think that’s the biggest thing is that it’s a great thing for our community.”
Vote
To vote for one of the finalists in the competition, visit csnbayarea.com/page/all-star-teacher-2014. The competition started April 7 and anyone who is at least 14 years old can vote once every day through June 1.
Gilroy’s all-star teacher finalist
To cast a vote for your favorite All-Star teacher, go to csnbayarea.com/page/all-star-teacher-2014
Anyone who is at least 14 years old can vote once a day until the competition ends June 1. Rick Charvet of Mt. Madonna Continuation High School is one of five finalists for the award. The winner takes home $20,000 for their school, courtesy of Comcast SportsNet and Provident Credit Union.