Teacher honored for excellence

Science teacher Robert Baxter was awarded $25,000 for excellence in the classroom in Buffalo, New York. As a black male, he says he was driven to succeed because no one expected him to be smart. After watching too many of his friends struggle with math and science, two of Baxter’s favorite subjects in school, he was determined to prove anyone can excel and anyone can learn. At Westminster, 98% of the students are minorities, and most come from poverty. Recently, 9 out of 10 eighth-graders who took Baxter’s science class had high enough grades to get high school biology credit.

Baxter says the key to student success is: “Personal relationships. For some of them, I might be the closest they have to a black male figure. I’m their school dad.” Baxter was honored for contributions, such as, calling students at home to come back to school and stay with him until they master the lesson and encouraging his students to fight for the top two spots in the class with $100 cash incentive.

Article: Science Teacher Honored for Excellence

Tuesday was no ordinary day at Westminster Community Charter School — the state education commissioner was there, along with a slew of other official types in suits, front and center at a well-orchestrated assembly in the gym.

Read the full article at: buffalonews.com

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