Mr. Prasad Gerard, current chemistry and physics teacher as well as cross country and track and field Coach, has held multiple careers before working as a teacher. Inspired by his uncle, Gerard worked in the film industry for almost four years as an actor and production assistant.
Some of his credits include working in the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola film “The Cotton Club,” as well as one of the first simulator rides at the Universal Theme Park, “Back to the Future: The Ride.”
“It was a really cool experience where we took over an old textile factory and built a studio in it,” said Gerard. “I would run up and down to New York [and] pick stuff up, and I got to meet Steven Spielberg. The guy who did ‘The Ride’ also did the special effects for ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘Close Encounters of a Third Kind.’”
Gerard eventually got his Masters in Education while working as both a cab driver in New York and an aspiring actor for around four years. After previously teaching in Pittsburgh and Guam, he finally started at Poolesville in 2008. Out of all careers, teaching has been his longest because of his passion for educating students in science through hands-on learning.
“I like science a lot,” said Gerard. “It’s a great subject. There are a lot of different things you can do with it. A lot of gimmicks. Like demonstrations, make noises, color changes.”
He also partakes in numerous other science-related activities, such as sponsoring the Chemistry Club and Science Bowl. Gerard is also part of other school activities such as the Chess Club and cross country and track and field teams.
Gerard started coaching due to his love of cross country, a sport he says he’d play for the rest of his life. Coaching for Gerard became an essential part of the teaching process, bridging the gap between him and students.
“It gives me a better connection with [athletes] I have in class,” said Gerard. “And it…helps [them] to see a different side of me.”
Gerard also took some time outside of teaching and coaching to help some athletes, including Poolesville alumni Kevin Hsu, with a musical passion project. With vocals from Gerard, Hsu created a dozen songs on his self-produced Spotify account, Prasad Records.
“You got to hear my horrible voice…but he did a good job and it was a lot of fun to do that with the students,” said Gerard.
Along with building relationships with his students, track and cross country coaching brings Gerard much personal satisfaction. Gerard says one of the best experiences in coaching has been watching athletes grow from their time as freshmen. One notable example was during the 2022-23 school year when he watched as athletes overcame struggles to outperform all 25 teams in Montgomery County. The victory was memorialized by the Washington Post, which praised Gerard and his athletes, as well as their victory over traditionally stronger teams.
