Meet the Faculty: PJ Tessier

PJ Tessier joined the History faculty this year, teaching AP and elective Economics. He also serves as the Head JV Girls’ Hockey Coach and Head JV Boys’ Lacrosse Coach. A former student-athlete himself, Mr. Tessier played lacrosse at Elmira College and later Nichols College, graduating from the latter. Read on to get to know this New Hampshire native a bit better.

Q. Let’s get personal right off the bat: We hear you are a newlywed!

A. Yes! I live here on campus with my wonderful wife Kiersta, and we just celebrated our wedding at the Hiland Park Country Club, in Queensbury, N.Y. surrounded by all of our family and friends. Major kudos to my in-laws, the Pinos, who threw a great party at their own home the following day!

Q. Kiersta is in education, too, correct? 

A. Yes, she teaches nearby at Kingswood Middle School. We enjoy getting outside, and especially live music and horse racing come the summertime. If you see us around campus, please come say hi! We are also close to my parents, as I grew up in nearby Mirror Lake. You may see us at the rink, golf course, or just out to eat downtown.

Q. Before joining Brewster, you worked at Fidelity Investments as a broker and financial planner. How does your experience there shape the way you now teach economics?

A. I have come at this year with a goal to bring as many real-world examples to the classroom as possible. I am bringing in guest speakers as we cover different topics, so students have the opportunity to hear from someone in the field, and can have the chance to ask questions of someone who was once in their shoes, seeking a career in finance or economics. My role before Brewster also allowed me to speak with clients from all different backgrounds and walks of life, which has been helpful in my transition to Brewster with such a diverse student body. 

Q. What first sparked your interest in economics, and how do you make the subject come alive for your students?

A. My mentor, a local gentleman, introduced me to financial planning as a career. This opened my eyes to how some of the shifts in our day-to-day life played into the economy as a whole. I like to use real-world examples when working through topics in class. For example, in our elective economics class, we relate our learning on supply, demand, opportunity cost, etc. to a stock of the students’ choosing. It helps to bring some tangibility to the subject that is largely theoretical.

Q. What’s one “aha!” moment you love seeing (or that you hope to see) students have in your classes?

A. I really enjoy seeing enthusiasm in what we cover. As we introduced the stock market project, there was a bit more buzz in the classroom as the students talked through what they wanted to cover. I hope to see this carry on as we dive deeper under the hood into the market and some of the drivers that make the economy tick.

Q. You describe yourself as a “lifelong student of money.” If you could design your own currency, what would be on it?

A. You have to start with the portrait in the middle, and I would love to claim the spot, but that would be a bit too vain. I would have the bald eagle front and center, and being a New Hampshire native, the Old Man of the Mountain on the side with Lake Winnipesaukee on the back.

Q. As someone who played collegiate lacrosse and now coaches two JV teams, how does your athlete/coaching experience influence your teaching, and vice versa?

A. I will start by saying how much I love not only lacrosse, but sports in general. One of the reasons Brewster was an attractive option for me was the opportunity to return to coaching sports that I have an interest in. I also enjoy bringing teamwork to the classroom, in group work helping to push everyone along. When working in a group, there can’t just be a single participant contributing to success; each team player has to carry a bit more of the weight. I see it as an opportunity to flex knowledge through teaching each other what we know and soaking up what we don’t in a close setting.

Q. Let’s say that among hockey, lacrosse, and golf, you can only play one for the rest of your life. Which do you choose, and why?

A. This is a tough one, but I have already checked out of competitive lacrosse due to its physical nature. I am going to stick with hockey. I have met some of my closest friends post-college through teams and leagues, and the camaraderie is important to me

Q. You’ve shared that you have some pretty diverse hobbies and interests. Let’s tackle the stickiest and tastiest first: We’ve heard you are an aspiring pitmaster—what’s your signature BBQ dish?

A. People say brisket is the best BBQ, but smoked wings and salmon take that ranking for me.

Q. Model railroading is another passion of yours—what draws you to it, and do your students know about your hobby?

A. I love history, and combined with some of the largest companies, takeovers, and bankruptcies of all time, the railroad industry tells a great story. I think only a handful of students know at this point, but in this hobby, the more the merrier! Shout out to the Worcester Model Railroad Club!

Q. Are you involved in any way with the new Lakes Region Railroad Museum project, which is trying to open near the old Railroad Station in downtown Wolfeboro later this year?

A. I have spoken with John Simms, the project’s fundraising campaign manager, about working with the Museum both as a volunteer and as an educator here at Brewster. While I can't make their regular meetings due to the teaching schedule, this summer and during free times, I will be working to help out on some of their modeling. In fact, the old Klickety-Klack Railroad shop in Wolfeboro was one of my introductions to the hobby.

Q. You’re a busy guy! 

A. Well, my wife and I are incredibly excited to be here and to get involved on campus. I am eager to help facilitate the newly formed Finance Club and to participate in the D&D Club on Thursday nights as well. I hope people reading this will come say hello if you see me around campus—I’m always happy to chat about shared interests!