Often times, student’s perspectives of teachers can be one-dimensional. They lecture, they grade papers, and complain (just like us.) Let’s not forget, when that bell rings at 1:55, teachers run off to carry on with other aspects of their not-so-one-dimensional lives.

History teacher Mr. Kristopher Dumas enjoys getting out of the crammed high school to enjoy the fresh air. When not in school, Dumas pursues his many passions of taking photos, fishing, traveling, collecting art, doing yard work, going to athletic events, and listening to a wide array of music. “I don’t like to sit in one spot; I like to do things,” said Dumas. He can even be caught “playing Mario Cart with [his] fiance.”

An avid lover of buffalo wings and hot sauce, Dumas believes “hot sauce can be put on just about everything.”

He has been a history teacher at BHS for nine years and is currently co-teaching the police academy course for the first time with Detective Hall.

“I love having the opportunity to work with young men and women. Trying to get them to enjoy learning is important,” Dumas said. “It makes life much easier once you find something you love; it’s tough out there in the world.”

Dumas loves that every day for him is different. In college, he spent three years majoring in criminal justice. “The police academy course has reunited a lot of the passion I have for it,” said Dumas.

Growing up, Dumas always thought he’d go into the military. But after a serious knee injury his junior year in college, he knew entering the armed forces was out of the question, and began to reassess his life. He always took history classes in school simply because he enjoyed them, and the volunteer work he did at an elementary school while in college sparked his interest in teaching students.

“I’d rather educate young individuals than arrest them anyways,” said Dumas, who graduated from BHS in 2000.

Teaching the police academy course has been a unique experience for him. “It’s been really cool working with Detective Hall and getting to see what he does.” The police academy course has a very different pace to it than a traditional class at BHS, as it is more interactive.

He has always had a large passion for music, and estimates he’s seen close to 1,000 live band performances. Whether it is hip-hop, rock and roll, or jazz, Dumas said he loves it all. Over the years, Dumas has gone to about 90 concerts by Phish, an American rock band.

Photography has also always been a passion for Dumas– especially photographs taken at concerts. While at Phish concerts, Dumas noticed how the people attending were always selling many different things. “For some strange reason, I had noticed these people benefiting from their talents.” After he realized there was a market for selling pictures, Dumas spent hours on Photoshop playing with his personal collection of photographs taken at Phish concerts. He enhances his images solely for visual appeal.

Dumas decided to put his photography and editing skills to the test. Within two hours of showing the images just to his friends, he pre-sold six canvas images. “I thought, ‘Oh, wow!’” The interest in his pictures inspired Dumas to recently create an Etsy shop online. Although he has not yet sold any prints through his account, he has continued selling them through other online resources like Facebook.

Dumas feels lucky he was able to capture some great images at these Phish concerts. He admits to being no photography expert, but he still loves it.

“I was always the one with the camera around my neck in high school,” he said, adding that his finance always gives him a hard time for taking pictures while they are on vacation. “I always tell her, we are only as good looking as we are for so long!”

Dumas respects the push for Challenge Day at BHS. He wants everyone to “challenge yourself to step outside of your norm, enjoy being outside and disconnect from technology every once in a while.” Highly recommended by Dumas, everyone should read a book by Henry David Thoreau. “Anything written by the man!” said Dumas. “We’ve forgotten about the beauties of the world, just enjoy nature.”

Cape Cod is a place filled with beaches and beauty. Dumas struggles to understand how “there are tons of opportunities to go outside, yet people sit inside with nothing to do.”