This month our teacher spotlight is on Mr. Baldwin. He teaches 10th grade Social Studies, and I recently got a chance to ask him a few questions:

Q: Why did you choose to teach in this school district?

A: In the winter of 1999 my wife and I still had not used a wedding gift for the Inn at Brandywine Falls. I was teaching in Columbus, Ohio and enjoying teaching there. The weekend came for our stay at the Inn, and while we were there I met Dick and Darline Elsasser. They told me that Amherst needed a Social Studies teacher and they were my contact with Amherst. Since then Amherst and I have been like peas and carrots.

Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?

A: I wanted to become a teacher for two reasons. Firstly, I grew up in a family of teachers, we had a good life and I wanted to give my family the same life style I had. Secondly I had an educational experience when I was working for Kent City schools in 1995. I realized that teaching was very rewarding for me and I wanted to continue in the field.  

Q: What colleges did you attend, and why did you choose to go there?

A: I have attended and graduated from a few of Northeastern Ohio Universities. I received my Bachelors Degree from Kent State University.  I received my Masters Degree from the University of Akron and I am currently taking classes from Grand Canyon University.”

Mr. Baldwin has won several awards over the years. In 2006, he was awarded the “C.o.m.e.t.” award, “It was a great honor to be recognized by the students at Steele” said Baldwin. He also received the “Café Monitor Award” for two years of service to the lunchroom at the school.

Additionally, he has been a part of the soccer team here at Amherst since 1999 where he coached for two years. Now he scouts for the same team. He also coached softball in the seasons of 1999 and 2000.

His favorite sports team is Chelsea Football Club, which is a western suburb of London. In recent years they have been called the New York Yankees of Soccer, which for him is great because he can watch great soccer. He also enjoys watching the University of Alabama football team because his wife’s family has moved to Alabama. “It’s fun watching the highs and lows,” said Baldwin

I also asked, if a student wants to teach social studies what advice would you give them? He said, “Social Studies is one of the most important classes in your educational experience. Most students do not spend enough time thinking about the past and choose not to learn from it. People live history and do not realize it.  If I were giving advice to a future social studies educator I would tell them to vary their teaching style and methods. The modern teacher must make it active to reach the student of today.”

Hopefully this gave you some insight to one of our many great teachers here at Steele.