As we head for the end of this school year, we find ourselves on the brink of bidding farewell to Mr. Thomas Gigot, our esteemed math teacher and Math Department Chair, who will be retiring after this year. In a recent interview conducted by Leo Liu, ’25, Mr. Gigot shared his reflections on our school and the transition he will soon be making.

Mr. Gigot described Prep as a “wonderful place,” emphasizing that what he will miss most are the students. According to Mr. Gigot, his teaching philosophy revolves around the idea that “math trains us to think carefully, clearly, and creatively.” His greatest reward comes from watching his “students grow into careful, clear, and creative thinkers.” 

Beyond his role as Prep’s Honors Precalculus teacher, Mr. Gigot serves as the Math Department Chair, adding an extra layer of significance to his retirement. The question of who will take up the mantle as the new department chair remains unanswered, a decision left in the hands of the administration.

Looking ahead to his retirement, Mr. Gigot first plans to “take a step back and relax.” Mr. Gigot arrived at Prep after a long, successful law career in Washington, D.C., and looks forward to retiring completely. We are grateful for the contributions Mr. Gigot has made since joining the Prep community in 2011 and anticipate the coming academic year will be filled with nostalgia as we walk past H202 without seeing Mr. Gigot in front of the board, eager to share his love for math and problem solving with his students. Though it will be difficult to replace Mr. Gigot’s presence on campus, we are eager to see the new chapter that awaits the Math Department.