Any Mount Pisgah student who has walked the halls knows Mr. Kelsh. He is a staple to our school community. A beloved AP Art History and Latin teacher, Kelsh has had a big impact on all the students that he has taught and coached throughout the years.

Kelsh’s classroom, located at the bottom of the H Building, can be categorized as almost an art museum in and of itself. The walls are covered in paintings for his art history class and shelves are full of all you need to know about Latin.

He has formed relationships with students, which leads to their enjoyment of the class and interest in new things.

“It’s truly a blessing to see students’ curiosity lead to academic discovery. And I think the most effective way to pique interest is through strong personal relationships between teachers and families. I love coming to work and seeing students grow and progress into lifelong learners,” said Kelsh.

When you walk into his classroom you’ll sometimes find him teaching, or ready to tell you a fun fact about something you never would have thought about if it weren’t for him. 

“He never makes class boring,” said freshman Annika Leber.

Students know that class is going to be fun when Kelsh brings out the buzzers for review games.

“My favorite thing about Mr. Kelsh’s class is when we get to play the buzzer games and learn about new topics,” said junior Emily Shelton.

Any student taking Latin will know about his “phrases of the day”, a Latin phrase that starts class each day. These phrases come in all shapes and sizes too. From medical terms to the state motto of Kansas, they interest students and let them see Latin in everyday places.

Kelsh has been a defining force for our school, moving so many people forward in their lives, building curiosity and helping them love the classes they are in.

“I always hope that students get some enjoyment out of the class. While the reality is that no one goes on to speak Latin in the real world, my hope for them is that they have fun in class while at the same time learning about how languages work, as well as Roman culture,” said Kelsh. “For Art History, I want students to learn how to look at the world in a thoughtful and inquisitive way. We are surrounded by artworks of all kinds daily – the question is whether we choose to pay attention to them.”