DUANE CARR: A Math Teacher with Multiple Roles

It’s an unusual equation: take one math teacher, drawn to St. John’s because of its commitment to Catholic values and personal relationships, and add multiple roles over 40 years: debate coach, first Lasallian animator, summer school program head, and director of the De La Salle Scholars Program. Result? Duane Carr, a vital member of the St. John’s community. He also met meet his wife, School Nurse Sue Stanton-Carr, at St. John’s!

When he first arrived at SJC in 1983, shortly after graduating from George Mason University, Carr already had dual responsibilities: to be both a math teacher and coach of the speech and debate team. His interest in both roles was sparked by his high school debate coach and mentor, the late Mrs. Esther Kalmbach, a nationally recognized coach who taught math. “I enjoyed the logical approach of high school speech and debate, and I found similar reasoning in math,” said Carr. “I modeled my early career of teaching and coaching after her.”

It’s a model that worked: for the first 20 years of his teaching career, Carr was the coach of the SJC Forensics Team (speech and debate), which traveled extensively and won many awards. “We qualified many students to the national tournaments,” said Carr. “SJC had a reputation as a national power.”

Always a leader in the community, Carr was one of the first people to welcome President Jeff Mancabelli to SJC in the summer of 1999. While it was a quiet time on campus, Mancabelli says Carr helped create an enthusiastic, welcoming atmosphere.

Carr still comes to work each day with that enthusiasm, which he credits to the energy of the classroom. You walk in with an agenda, but you have to be ready to adapt to meet the needs of the students,” he said. To keep math relevant to students, Carr enjoys bringing the real world into the classroom, such as posting a “daily mathematician” during Black History and Women’s History months.

Carr also sees a connection between SJC’s mission of faith and mathematics. “Math is the language that God uses in His creation,” he said. “From the farthest reaches of the cosmos to the inner workings of the smallest microbes, God structures His wonders using the logic of mathematics. As humans have continued on the path He has created for us, we have discovered algebra, Euclidean geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and so much more. I have always tried to impress upon my students the ‘beauty’ of mathematics.”

When asked about the changes he’s seen in his 40 years at SJC, Carr says those years were like the shift from horse and buggy to electric cars, citing the changes led by Bro. Thomas Gerrow, FSC, and President Mancabelli, which included campus upgrades and coed education. What hasn’t changed is Carr’s appreciation of the beauty of the campus and its proximity to Rock Creek Park.

Even though times have changed, Carr notes that SJC students maintain the Lasallian tenets he and other faculty and staff value: he says they are polite and honest—“truly good kids.” The students in turn appreciate him.

“Mr. Carr is a wonderful, caring person and teacher, who makes people smile and laugh,” said current student Logan Brooks ’25. “He’s always interested in how his students are doing and what is going on in their lives beyond the classroom.”

When asked which math class was his favorite to teach, Carr answers not with the expected—Geometry or Algebra II—but in a way that encompasses his genuine dedication, good humor, and precise memory: “The classes of ’86, ’92, and ’95.”

Both Carr and Ken Grimsley are marking 40 years at St. John’s. “I have had the privilege of developing a deep friendship with Duane, surpassing our professional relationship,” said Grimsley. “I am grateful for having such a genuine friend by my side throughout our journey.”

“The richness of Mr. Carr’s contributions to St. John’s shows not only his breadth of experience, intellectual acumen, and skill, but also how he models the traits of Lasallian education in all that he has done…Duane has touched the hearts and minds of so many students over his career because of his strong faith in God and in them,” said SJC Principal Christopher Themistos. It’s a fitting tribute for a teacher who’s given so much to St. John’s.

Duane Carr and Ken Grimsley are both 40-year SJC veterans. Here’s what they say about each other:

Duane Carr about Ken Grimsley:

Ken Grimsley about Duane Carr:

I have had the privilege of developing a deep friendship with Duane, surpassing our professional relationship. I not only got to know Duane on a personal level, but I also had the opportunity to build a connection with his wife during her time at St. John’s as the school nurse. We have experienced many milestones, witnessing the graduation of several staff members and board members who are still with us today. I am grateful for having such a genuine friend by my side throughout our journey.

A wise veteran teacher told me if I wanted to be successful, become friends with someone on the custodial staff. Kenny’s ability to know what is going on with the students and the staff has allowed SJC to be successful on many levels. He has helped and counseled many young people over the last four decades, and in La Salle’s words, he has “touched the hearts” of countless young men and women. I am glad I followed the advice of that veteran teacher. My teaching career is successful because of my friendship with Mr. Kenny Grimsley.