Thomas Kelsey

Math & Science
VDA Teacher Since 2026

Tell me a little about your personal and educational background.

I am one of seven children, and I grew up in Indiana, around Notre Dame. I moved to California when I was 17, to attend Thomas Aquinas College, where I received a BA in Liberal Arts. I decided to stick around after I fell in love with surfing, and I've been surfing So Cal ever since.

When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

I always had teaching on my radar, as my dad is a Philosophy professor at the University of Chicago. I started looking into teaching in earnest more recently, after my younger sister started teaching and loved it. I've also been teaching surfing for the past few years, most recently to neurodiverse individuals. I really enjoy seeing the lights go on as someone struggles through a difficult concept and finally grasps it, and that's what I'm looking forward to most in teaching.

Why did you choose science as your subject specialty?

I have always had more of a math and science bent than a lot of my peers, so science felt like a natural choice. I've found that a firm grasp of science, particularly physics, helps me to appreciate, wonder at, and understand the world around me. I haven't met many people with that same wonder drawn from science, but I've met even fewer who didn't develop it after I pointed out the things I saw.

Do you have any favorite stories from your teaching experience?

I have lots of stories from teaching surfing, but the ones I like best are from working with the same athlete week in and week out and making slow, incremental progress. I worked with one surfer over the summer who went from not being willing to even lift her head off the board, to standing all the way up. This took several months, but it was a joy every time to see her smile as we made it to milestones along the way.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Believe it or not, surf! I surf nearly every day, and I also do my own surfboard repairs.

When I'm not surfing, I like to do jiu jitsu or walk around town and chat with whoever I run into.

Is there anything else parents or prospective parents should know about you?

My goal is to continually improve my teaching, and I've found the best way to improve is to receive feedback. Any feedback you have is greatly appreciated, and I will strive to incorporate it as best I can.

My goal is to continually improve my teaching, and I've found the best way to improve is to receive feedback. Any feedback you have is greatly appreciated, and I will strive to incorporate it as best I can.

What brought you to VanDamme Academy?

I came to VanDamme Academy because of its educational mission. I have no interest in forcing kids to memorize information for its own sake; in fact, that was the most frustrating part of my grade school education. I believe at VanDamme Academy I will be able to help kids think well and see the world in a new light.