Mr. DeCamp Almost Quit Teaching; Now He's Teaching Three Classes in One

Naomi Tamene - October 2, 2023

When Mr. Decamp chose to teach three classes in one period this school year, he wasn’t worried about himself. To him, it was all about the students.

Starting out in construction, Decamp bounced around from studying geology, then back to construction, studying Art Studio at UC Davis, teaching at Davis High, and then even getting a masters degree in Art History while still teaching at Davis High and another junior college in the Bay Area too. After 29 years, Mr. Decamp even retired from teaching, but he only lasted six months before becoming a teacher at Pioneer because of his love for kids. 

This year Mr. Decamp is the advisor for Rock Climbing Club (which he’d love for you to join!), teaches Art 1 second period, but more importantly, he’s teaching AP Art Studio, AP Art History, and Art 2 all during fourth period. Art classes are regularly combined when there’s not enough enrollment in a particular class, and Mr. Decamp volunteered to teach these three together, saying “We really need to offer those [classes] to our advanced students.”

The students are really the heart of these classes and the reason why Mr. Decamp feels “lucky” to teach them. Even though the three classes are all very different since AP Art Studio is more independent and working on portfolios, Art 2 is some developing a portfolio and also some technical assignments, and AP Art History is a lot of lecture, discussion, tests, and papers, the kids are all really great and do amazing work, according to Mr. Decamp. 

Teaching multiple classes in one small 50 minute period is no small feat, but for Mr. Decamp, only about “one day a month feels stressful for whatever reason.” Generally, these classes are a source of joy in his life. He even hopes to have a chance to do this again in the future.

To any teachers wanting to try something similar to this three in one class, Mr. Decamps says, “You really have to want to do it,” and have kids that work really hard and want to be there. The reason Art 2, AP Art Studio, and AP Art History work so well together is because of the advanced students that make up the classes.