In 1986, Mr. McAlpin set foot on campus to begin what would become 40 years of dedicated service to the Belmont Hill community. After graduating from Oberlin, Mr. McAlpin worked as an exploration geologist in the Michigan, Appalachian, and Illinois basins exploring for hydrocarbons. After his geological work and a multi-month trip around the world, Mr. McAlpin decided to settle down and begin teaching. He entered the science department that first year and has never left. In his early years at Belmont Hill, Mr. McAlpin lived on campus with his wife and, eventually, his three children, two of whom graduated from Belmont Hill.
Mr. McAlpin has taught a variety of classes on campus, including environmental science, geology, astrology, and biology. Mr. McAlpin pioneered AP Environmental Science at Belmont Hill, founding the course for students with a specific interest in the in-depth study of environmental science. Eventually, Mr. McAlpin transitioned to teaching Form III Environmental Science, having the opportunity to teach every Form III student for half of the year. In his own words, Mr. McAlpin would “pinch hit” for certain biology classes when necessary, but chemistry was never his strong suit. Mr. McAlpin expressed his appreciation for the geology courses he taught, specifically noting that he enjoyed watching kids who thought they weren’t “science kids” become interested in science. Committed to sustainability, Mr. McAlpin served as founding faculty advisor for the BH sustainability club and advocated regularly to the school’s administration and board on behalf of sustainability initiatives. Within the Town of Belmont, he served as vice-chairman of Sustainable Belmont, a local sustainability advocacy group.
Mr. McAlpin’s impact on Belmont Hill reverberates far beyond his role in the classroom. In his first 10 years at Belmont Hill, he served as faculty advisor for the school’s publications, including The Panel and The Sextant. As coach to the Form I and Form II baseball teams for most of his time at Belmont Hill, he helped improve the skills of generations of young baseball players while building close relationships with the athletes. Also, in his early years living on campus, Mr. McAlpin served as a faculty advisor in the dorms. For nearly two decades, Mr. McAlpin has served informally as the the Island School’s ambassador, encouraging BH students to branch out and experience the immersive marine program, which both of Mr. McAlpin’s sons attended.
When asked about his favorite Belmont Hill memory, Mr. McAlpin recalled that during one of his first few years, he took a painting class with BH students during his free block. He remarked on how much he enjoyed the painting, and how much fun it was to “struggle alongside the students.”
Asked how Belmont Hill had impacted Mr. McAlpin, his answer was distinct. “I’ve been here between the ages of 30 and 70. I have been here for countless milestones, and what really sticks is that I’ve been here, with Belmont Hill, for it all.” Mr. McAlpin explained that the Belmont Hill community has always emphasized kindness during his time at the school. “I think that BH has taught me a lot about how to go about every interaction with kindness as the goal.” Mr. McAlpin also emphasized the importance of the relationships he formed at BH: “The sense of relationships. Student and faculty relationships. It’s really been about the relationships for me.”
One Belmont Hill faculty member who taught alongside Mr. McAlpin described him as “affable, dignified, and motivated.” A current BH student who took Form III Environmental Science with Mr. McAlpin remarked, “The class was great, but what really resonated with me was the way Mr. McAlpin worked with us. He really emphasizes creating relationships with all the students he taught, and that’s a really nice thing to have in a teacher.”
As Mr. McAlpin wraps up his 40th year at Belmont Hill, he is looking forward to spending a little more time relaxing, getting back into painting, spending time with his grandchildren, and writing songs. Mr. McAlpin is a big songwriter and has written hundreds of songs. In the coming years, he hopes to write songs that reach the radio.
Over the last 40 years, Mr. McAlpin has made a remarkable impact on the Belmont Hill community. Whether it be inspiring young minds to explore the impact they have on the environment, forming close relationships with students and faculty alike, or helping develop countless middle-school baseball players, Mr. McAlpin has had a major impact on Belmont Hill, and his presence will be missed. The entire Belmont Hill community wishes Mr. McAlpin luck in his next chapter, whether it be exploring nature, spending time with his family, or writing songs.
