Most people know being a teacher, let alone a physics teacher, is no easy task. Despite this, Hillsborough High School’s Christopher Aleo is much more than a physics teacher. Aleo has been teaching physics for 26 years in NJ, including 21 amazing years at HHS. After finishing grad school, Aleo went on to work as an engineer for two different companies. 

Aleo goes above and beyond everyday to share his love of physics with his students. From his jokes of the day, lively approach to teaching, and incorporation of funny physics YouTube videos, Aleo never fails to keep his students interested during class. It is impossible for Aleo to pick just one favorite memory in his years at HHS, as he tries to make each day memorable. 

Aleo stays on his toes every day trying to find new strategies of teaching students.

“Trust me, it is very easy to complicate things in this profession and show off how much you know,” Aleo said, “but that is not the name of the game.”

Aleo likes the challenge of making a traditionally difficult topics easy to understand at a high school level. “It is a constant challenge to continue to simplify concepts,” Aleo said.

Aleo has been able to pass on his love for physics to several of his students. Countless of Aleo’s students have gone on to continue their physics careers past the walls of HHS. “In fact, one of my former students helped design the titanium drill on the Mars Curiosity Rover,” Aleo said. 

Aleo is also notorious for his love of cars, as they are a common topic in his physics problems. Sometime in the future, Aleo hopes to spend an entire summer test driving every car he’s ever dreamed about, though he is unsure which car he would end up taking home. “I can tell you for sure it would NOT be a 2005 Honda Odyssey with 165,000 miles on it and a 10-inch dent in the front quarter panel!” Aleo joked. 

Aleo’s classes are filled with interesting labs and experiments all year long. Ranging from dropping basketballs off lab tables, running up the stairwell to calculate horsepower, or swinging a bowling ball to mimic a pendulum. However, Aleo’s favorite experiment doesn’t come until June when students design their own rockets.

“Launching something you built and trying to make it better everyday by using everything you have learned in physics is the most satisfying project we do,” Aleo said.