Boothbay Region High School is saying goodbye to the man behind one of its most hands-on classrooms. On the lower level of the school, Chip Schwehm — better known to generations of students as Mr. Schwehm — is retiring after more than 30 years in education, including 22 years at BRHS as its STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teacher.

Schwehm began his career teaching physics before transitioning into STEM education. One of the first courses he taught was photography. "We used the darkroom at the school and learned how to use 35-millimeter cameras. This is old school now," Schwehm said. 

After completing a teaching partnership in Wiscasset after a break from his teaching career, Schwehm said he "fell in love with teaching" and has spent decades helping students learn through hands-on projects. "We primarily made things in the classroom, and kids experienced a lot of hands-on work and problem-solving."

He spoke about the value of STEM education and worries that programs like his are becoming less common. "I hate that it's dying because kids still need programs like that," he said. Classes like Schwehm's give students practical skills that prepare them for today's workforce while teaching them how to solve real-world problems.

"I think we need that more than ever," Schwehm said. "Kids come into school now with fewer and fewer hands-on experiences."

His classroom offered students a break from traditional academic classes while encouraging them to stay active and engaged. "I think it's a time-out for a lot of the kids," he said. "They get a place to be active and doing something physical. Kids need that kind of place and freedom."

Students who took Schwehm's classes left with more than projects they could proudly show off. They also developed workplace habits that will serve them long after graduation. "Coming to class on time, using your time productively, and switching from task to task," Schwehm said, are just a few of the skills students learn.

"It's not all just knocking things together," he added. "Here, your brain is engaged too."

While Schwehm said he will miss teaching, it is the relationships with his students that he expects to miss the most. "I'm going to miss that — the goofy moments with the kids where you just get to have fun," he said.

He also reflected on how teaching helped him continue learning throughout his career. "I'm also going to miss the freedom to learn new things. I learned a lot as a teacher."

When asked what he hopes students will remember from their time in his classroom, he answered: "You know, school isn't such a bad place."

Whether students were building musical instruments, constructing boats, or creating something entirely their own, Schwehm's classroom let learn by doing. As BRHS begins the search for its next STEM teacher, Schwehm hopes the program will continue to inspire future generations of makers.