For the first Faculty Focus of the year, the Eagle Examiner has chosen a longstanding RMA favorite: Mr. Stancavish! Entering his tenth year of teaching at Rocky Mount Academy, Mr. Stancavish has taught World Cultures, AP Economics, U.S History, European History, and Public Speaking. Unforgettable for his humor and fascinating life stories, “Stank,” as he is affectionately known, uses his anecdotes and wit to help students get information to stick. His two children, Jason, third grade, and Sarah, ninth grade, have varying opinions on having their father work at their school. While Jason really likes his dad being able to walk him to class in the mornings, Sarah, who has her father as her World Culture’s teacher this year, said that it could sometimes be slightly awkward. As shown in the interview below, Mr. Stancavish provides a first-hand example of his intriguing personality:

1. How was your trip to France this summer? What encouraged/prompted you to take this trip? It was great! Thank you for asking. I went with two of my closest friends (I’ve known both since I was 12). The three of us had been trying to plan this trip for the past seven years. And for one reason or another, it didn’t work out – until this year. This was not a “normal” European vacation, per se. We went to France and Belgium to follow in the steps of the 101st Airborne Paratroopers’ “EZ Company.” These were the guys who became famous through the book Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose and from the HBO miniseries of the same name. Their experiences in the war, by the way, were anything but EZ.
2. What is the most memorable experience that you haven taken from your trip? Hard to come up with one memorable experience. But if I had to, I would say walking through the American cemetery in Normandy on a bluff atop Omaha Beach and seeing firsthand the thousands of young men who gave their lives on D-Day and throughout the rest of the war to defeat Nazi Germany. Another incredible experience was walking through the Ardennes Forest near the Germany-Belgium border and seeing the foxholes these soldiers dug in the winter of 1944 and 1945.
3. Who did you travel with (independent trip, family trip, trip with friends, etc.) and why did you chose this company? I traveled with two lifelong friends – Joe, who I’ve known since 4th grade and Chris, who I’ve known since 7th grade. They are great guys and great to travel with. The three of us have been to Europe five times together. We’ve been all over Europe.
4. What advice would you give other students/faculty if they were wondering what traveling abroad was like? Be as organized as possible. Be ready to tolerate long security lines at airports. Make sure your passport is up to date. Don’t lose your passport. Hire guides to show you places you could never find on your own. Pay up to stay in decent hotels. When I was younger I didn’t find staying in dives. Now I really appreciate things like air conditioning and cleanliness.
5.  I’ve heard you’ve written some books. What prompted you to write them and what were they based off of (if anything)? I’ve been writing fiction for the past 20 years. I’ve written five books, and published two of them. I’m prompted to write by the voice inside my brain that tells me I need to write, to give a voice to characters created in my imagination. It’s hard to describe. This is the best I can do.
6. What is your favorite quote and why? “He among you is the wisest who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. I’ve always liked this quote. To me, it means: You don’t have to follow the crowd” and also: Even if you are a part of the crowd, you can still be an individual. You can still be true to yourself.
7. Who is your favorite historical figure? Why do you appreciate/admire this person and how did you first find out about them? As a history teacher, I find it difficult to narrow my choice down to one person. But since you’ve phrased the question this way, I’ll try to do it. How about Martin Luther? He singlehandedly exposed rampant corruption and fraud and took on the most powerful institution in the world at the time – the Catholic Church. He translated The Bible into German (from Latin) so more people could read it for themselves instead of relying on what priest has to say. He ended the system of papal indulgences. He wrote tracts of invective against the pope, and lived to tell the tale. In the process, he set the stage for the creation of the entire Protestant faith. A brave and fascinating person.
8. If you could give any advice to your high-school self, what would it be? Follow your heart not your head. Stay humble. Be who you are, not who others want you to be. Drive safely.
9. If you had to pick a planet to live besides Earth (assuming for the moment all are able to support life) which one would you pick and why? I am just not into astronomy. Sorry. But how about Venus? Isn’t she the Goddess of Love? I wouldn’t mind knowing her.
10. Is there a certain part of the school day or school year that you look forward to? If so, why do you look forward to it? I like the beginning of the day and the end of the day. I like the beginning because I have the most mental and physical energy. I like the end of the day because I can reflect on what went well, what didn’t and where I can improve.