The word “chemistry” can be defined in many different contexts.

It can be a subject in school. It can be a feeling between two or more people, and chemistry can even be seen in the elements of everyday life.

For Dennis Sayer, chemistry is all of the above and maybe even more.

Mr. Sayer teaches chemistry at Fort Lee High School during the day and then he trades in the “Mister” for “Coach” in the afternoon as he guides the Bridgemen co-ed bowling team.

This year marks his 39^th in the classroom as a chemistry teacher in a career that Sayer truly treasures.

“What I enjoy about chemistry is that it is one of the toughest subjects for kids to understand,” Sayer said. “Everyone is afraid chemistry is so tough with the science part and a lot of the math parts. My job is to try to break it down.”

By being approachable and making one of the more difficult classes more enjoyable, Sayer has found a formula for success.

“Lay it out as simply as I can, make it a little fun, and have the personality to teach it,” the teacher said of his time with the students. “I think I have been very successful at that.”

But for all of the countless hours he has spent on the same subject, one of the most valuable lessons Sayer has learned is that each student is different.

“You have to treat every student individually,” the chemistry teacher said. “They can’t compare to brothers and sisters. You can’t compare them to other students in classes. You have to give them a sense of fairness as to you grading them individually to find their strengths and weaknesses.”

This also translates to bowling, where Coach Dennis Sayer uses that same belief in chemistry to teach the many boys and girls on the team.

Dealing with seniors down to freshman, and novice bowlers up to advanced players, the coach works individually with each to build up confidence just like in the classroom.

That approach is paying dividends as Fort Lee has seen the chemistry on the team grow stronger throughout the year.

“He knows us in two different atmospheres and how we react in certain situations,” said senior bowler David Daniels, who also had Sayers in chemistry class. “I think that helps him understand what gets to us and how he can help us as individuals. We are all different and we all take things differently.”

At the bowling center, Dennis Sayer is teaching three things about chemistry to his team.

“The first is the chemistry of the players getting along and supporting themselves,” coach Sayer said. “That comes with just the personality of the kids and that is the easy part.

“Two, the chemistry of the lanes to know how oily they are and how the balls are going to break. When you don’t have the experienced bowlers and you try to explain certain things to them, it is a little tough to understand like upper level chemistry.”

And the last chemistry lesson comes with the composition of the bowling balls that the players use, something that coach Sayer is still learning himself.

“The chemistry of the material is important,” he said. “I’m still learning and it is a new chemistry to me relatively. They are a lot more knowledgeable people than I am but I’m a quick learner.”

So for 39 years, Dennis Sayer has been teaching chemistry to his students in class and in sports, from bowling to basketball, and soccer to lacrosse.

But when he was pressed to decide which place was easier to teach chemistry, the classroom or the bowling center, Sayer didn’t hesitate.

“Chemistry is much easier to teach,” he said honestly. “Bowling has a lot of nuances to teach…I’ll admit I’m an expert at teaching chemistry but I’m not an expert at teaching bowling.”

Whether you see Dennis Sayer in the classroom or at the lanes bowling, chances are you will see him just happy to be teaching the children that he cares for every single day.