Tammy Chincheck sat at her desk and entertained herself quietly while the last of her students were finishing up their IB History of Americas tests on the Age of Imperialism in the United States. The 2:55 bell had rung already, signaling the end of the school day, but she waited patiently as the last couple of juniors scrambled to complete the multiple choice section so they could be on their way.
After all the students left, she beckoned me over, and I moved up to a desk across from hers.
“Alright, so what is this going to be about?”
“It’s all about you.”
“Well, this is going to be a short interview.”
Chincheck grew up in West Virginia, outside of Charleston. Her family’s connection to the Kanawha River, beginning with her grandfather, a riverboat pilot, had kept them rooted there since the 1800s. She credits her love of history to family, who had always studied the nearby river.
“My family has always been interested in history, knowing the history connected to the river and the riverboat pilots. I see history as a story. It’s the story of people.”
Chincheck can find a story in anything, which is probably why she’s an avid collector. If you need some credentials, ask her about her pet parrot, Polly. She’s had it since she was ten years old.
“I collect everything, I collect photographs and puppets, I collect my clothes, I collect my shoes.”
Whether you have her as a teacher, or you’ve simply seen her walking through the halls of George Mason, Chincheck’s unique fashion sense is extremely evident.
“I love it,” said junior Lili Guilbaut, when asked about Chincheck’s notable apparel. “She’s always wearing a new seasonal sweater, and I don’t know how she finds them, but they always match the day. And the Christmas cowboy boots. I love those.”
Christmas cowboy boots? Absolutely. These are just one example of the types of quirky items you will find in Chincheck’s closet.
“I buy things and I keep them forever. I bought those as a 50th birthday present for myself, and I plan on wearing those until I’m 85. I just love shopping, and I love a good bargain.”
(For any readers who are coveting Chincheck’s look, she’s big on outlets and T.J. Maxx.)
Walking into Chincheck’s classroom, you may find a few of her collections filling up the white, cement walls and the blackboards. One in particular, is the assemblage of photos sitting on a blackboard on the left side of the classroom. All the photos are class pictures of students from the past.
“I just inherited this room with too many blackboards, so I felt the need to fill them up. When my grandfather passed away, we were cleaning out his house, and I just found some photographs of different people from school from the early 1900s, and I thought that that was kind of cool, because that’s what I do, I teach children in school.”
She then added her own class pictures of students from George Mason, showing a contrast between the present and the past.
“A couple of them are from when I took a student group – our model UN group went to Genoa, Italy. I got a picture of them waiting for the bus, because we were the only American school there, and we were the only ones on time when we were supposed to go to places.”
The collecting doesn’t stop at material goods. From her sorority sisters in the Alpha Phi chapter at West Virginia University to past students, Chincheck finds it extremely important to maintain relationships with the people she encounters, seeing that they lead to all kinds of opportunities and experiences. One student that she still keeps in contact with is 2013 Mason alum, Taylor Briese.
“Taylor Briese wants to be a history teacher. She’s very open about how she wants my job someday, and she keeps in touch.”
“Mrs. Chincheck is truly one of the most genuine and dedicated teachers I know. She is also an amazing person who has inspired me in so many ways, as a person, as an educator, as a dog lover and as a dedicated sports fan. I frequently say my life goal is to be “the next Tammy Chincheck” because she is that good of a teacher,” said Briese.
Briese and Chincheck bonded over a love of history, but Briese remarked that Chincheck encourages of all of her students, regardless of what their interest is.
“One of my all time favorite “Tammy” stories was when I told her I received the scholarship to go to CWI during my junior year,” said Briese. “It was about 7:50 in the morning and we were walking in the very crowded D-Wing [hallway] as everyone hurried to get to class. I had found out the scholarship decision over the weekend and could not wait to tell her.”
“We had been discussing our weekends and I then said, ‘Oh, I guess I should tell you I got the scholarship to CWI!’ In a matter of seconds, she attempted to give me a high five, which then turned into a jumping up and down hug, yelling ‘We get to go to CWI together!’ I smiled for the rest of the day. That is the story that defines Mrs. Chincheck to me. She’s enthusiastic, kind and passionate for her students to succeed and for her love of history.”
A collector of memories, Chincheck intends on literally taking a piece of the old George Mason with her when the school is torn down for reconstruction. The change is rather significant for Chincheck, who has been teaching in the current school building for almost 20 years.
“I might take a piece of the wall,” said Chincheck, gesturing to the white concrete wall to the left of her desk. A large portion of the wall is covered in drawings and messages from past students. One cement brick has a letter written by a student, advising future students not to procrastinate on history assignments. Another marks the date of December 12, 2012, or in other words 12/12/12 at 12:12 p.m. Students on that day had taken tests, which had all been completed by 12:12 in the afternoon. They saved a brick on the wall to commemorate the moment.
Chincheck’s sentimentality explains her sincere love of history. As she continues to journey through life, teaching and studying social sciences, the items and memories she collects along the way will with no doubt reveal her own story.
