Staff Writer
Benjamin
Cummins was chosen by his colleagues to be awarded Apex High School’s Teacher of
the Year in early November.
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| Benjamin Cummins |
Cummins said it felt good to be recognized
by his peers but added that other teachers also deserved this honor. He has been
teaching for 13 years, four of which have been spent at Apex. He obtained his
undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management and Forestry at Western
Carolina and his master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction for K-12 students
and broad field science from the University of Montana.
Cummins has always had a zeal for
helping people, so his mother suggested he pursue a career in teaching. He says
the secret to being an exemplary teacher is to build relationships with
students. He believes that students will really try in order not to let down
the teachers that they have built these bonds with. He tries to stick to the
phrase “Rigor, relevance, relationships” when he teaches. Apex junior and
member of the Robotics Club Alp Ozgunduz said, “He is a very good teacher, and
allows us to be independent when working and has our backs if we ever mess up.”
But Cummins’ influence isn’t only from 7:25 a.m.
to 2:18 p.m. He says being a teacher, “is not just about teaching in the
classroom” and he makes an effort to be involved in students’ lives with
activities like afterschool tutoring and clubs. Cummins sponsors the Robotics
Club, a club that allows students to construct robots and program them to
perform specific tasks in an arena. Cummins stays after school if students need
extra help understanding topics. His dedication to really being involved in the
lives of students has paid off. Students appreciate Cummins’ willingness to go
the extra mile and some show this appreciation through kind words in person or
by letter. He really values feedback like this and stated that teaching would
be perfect, “if it was just teaching.” Because of changes made by the state
legislature, teachers have to go without pay raises and open enrollment can put
too many students in one room. Factors like this, even to the best and most
experienced teachers, can be overwhelming, which is why many teachers wear red
on Wednesdays to protest the decisions made by state legislature.
As Apex High Teacher of the Year, Cummins
will now participate in the Wake County Public School System Teacher of the
Year competition.
