Most teachers are known for teaching rather than for dancing.

But not Phil Oates.

The Cluster 3 math teacher said he was known as “Twinkle Toes” to his high school classmates. Mr. Oates says he has a reputation of being the best dancer in the Watertown Middle School, so he has been entered into a fund-raiser called, “Dancing with the Stars.”

Mr. Oates will be doing a John Travolta-styled dance with his partner.

“I’m bringing disco back” he said.

“Dancing with the Stars” will be held Friday, March 14, at American Legion Post 440 in Newton, and it is a fund-raiser for the Watertown Education Foundation. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are $25 or $35 (gold circle) per person.

Mr. Oates is one of seven Watertown celebrities to be competing in the dance competition. Also dancing will be Lisa Keuchkarian (The Talk Restaurant), Renee Gaudette, (Watertown Boys and Girls Club); Ron LeSanto (Watertown Savings Bank), Terry Caporiccio (Cunniff), Elaine Antonellis (Cunniff), and Peter Centola (Watertown Recreation Department). They are paired with professional dance instructors from Avalon Dance Studio in Belmont.

Mr. Oates said he is taking a huge step out of his comfort zone, but, he said, “I usually do anything to raise money.”

All the money raised at the event will go toward the Watertown Education Foundation, which provides grants for teachers, classrooms, and schools.

If you would like to see Mr. Oates participating in this event — which is for adults only — you need to go to the Watertown Education Foundation website at http://watertowned.org/. (No tickets will be sold at the door.) The competition starts promptly at 7:30.

–March 12, 2014–