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BAYBORO, N.C. (AP) — Students in Joshua Gaskill's history class find out quickly that his plan is about more than just memorizing dates and events.
He wants them to know the story behind the historical line scores and to give thought to how events even hundreds of years ago relate to today's world.
His own story is compelling - a 2003 Pamlico graduate who looked at engineering and medicine before settling on a career as an educator.
"I tell my students, you don't have be richest person out there," he said. "You don't have to be a doctor or a lawyer to make an impact. Then I tell them my story of how I chased down these big dreams, big jobs and it (course work) left me unfulfilled."
He has only been teaching since 2010, but his work has gained notice. He was recently named the Southeast Regional Teacher of the Year for 13 counties and is one of eight finalists for N.C. Teacher of the Year.
"I had always loved history in high school," he said. "I just never realized it was something you could make a living out of."
But, while the paycheck is reality, he said he found his comfort place.
"Every day in this classroom it allows me to change lives and it is truly inspiring to me - this job, so rewarding," he said. "It is about making an impact and making those relationships with the students."
He grew up in a stable mother-father home and believes he can offer a positive male role model to many of his students who find themselves in a totally different home situation.
He realized that he has to be at the top of his game - professional and personal demeanor - each and every day.
"They know if there is a different tone in your voice," he said. "They'll call you out on it, especially if it is out of the ordinary. So, every day, I've got to sell them that lesson plan, got to get them excited," he said.
He has taught grades nine to 12 and now is mostly handling 10th grade American history classes.
He credits a strong background to his mentor Beth Swain during his student teaching days in 2009 and 2010 in her civics classroom at New Bern High School.
The layout of his room is traditional, a reflection of the school's original classrooms where he was once a student and now stands at the podium.
His teaching style is engaging the students so his class is not just a period where they pass time.
"You have to make it real to them, make it relevant," he said. "I do a lot with current events."
He shows a 10-minute segment of CNN Student News at the start of class.
"It shows a lot of current events and ties them to the past," he said. "Students love to talk about what they know and things they want to know more about. They really drive the discussion."
He is a Bayboro native and a 2003 Pamlico High graduate.
"My plans were to go to N.C. State and become a chemical engineer," he said. "I would never have imagined this is what I would be doing when I graduated - never in a million years did I think I would come back here to teach. But, I can honestly say it has been the best decision of my life."
He again talks about the rewards his job decision has made in his life.
"To be able to make an impact, to work with students every day to help them be successful and to give back to my community is amazing and awesome," he said.
His engineering school goal lasted about two years until he did an internship at a Georgia paper mill. He liked the work, but he decided it wasn't for him.
So, he thought of health care.
"In health care, you're always going to have a job," he recalled thinking at the time. Being an audiologist interested him and he was accepted at ECU in the doctorate program.
"I went there for a semester. That wasn't for me either," he said. "So, I called home one day and told my parents, 'I'm going to be a high school history teacher.'"
They were puzzled, but not totally surprised since he is now a fourth generation Pamlico County educator. His great-grandfather Elbert Prescott was a middle school teacher and principal; his late grandmother Beulah Prescott was a business teacher and assistant principal; and his mother Martha is now a business teacher at the high school.
His dad Dennis is a tug boat captain, which Gaskill calls "a cool job."
However, he'll stick to his own day job - history teacher.
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Information from: The Sun Journal, http://www.newbernsunjournal.com
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