黑料传送门

鈥淚t鈥檚 worth more than any paycheck, you know. There鈥檚 just something about it,鈥澛�

Bency Pierre is聽a teacher for Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District in Long Island, New York. Bency, who teaches Spanish at the middle school and French and social studies at the high school, loves teaching because he gets to have fun. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have to grow up,鈥� he said jokingly.

Bency Pierre earned his master鈥檚 in English Language Learning from 黑料传送门 and uses his education to lift his students and elevate his school. In fact, the high school where he teaches was recently named one of only 19聽聽in New York, an honor given by the U.S. Department of Education. Across the nation, only 325 schools received this distinction in 2021.

Making a difference and being an example are the driving forces for Bency. He works hard to not only motivate students but also help them embrace diversity. 鈥淏eing a minority teacher, there aren't many teachers who look like me, much less students in my classes that look like me.聽So,聽for me聽it鈥檚聽an opportunity to expose children to a different culture because you don't know that it's possible until you see it. I kind of get to plant that seed of empathy and perspective.

Working with other teachers has been a joy for Bency. 鈥淚t's really a nurturing environment.聽 They've always helped me grow,鈥� he said.聽The other teachers have helped him learn more about聽organization, understand new teaching strategies, and more. And Bency is quick to return the favor, using his聽talents聽to lift聽his fellow educators. 鈥淢y strength is kind of not panicking in the moment,鈥� Bency said. When things get hectic at school, Bency is the one to remind everyone that it鈥檚 going to be ok and that聽they will聽find a solution

Bency聽not only loves his colleagues, but he聽cares deeply for his students. 鈥淥ne of my biggest challenges was not being too attached,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou see the struggles they鈥檙e going through, and sometimes you wish you could save the聽person;聽you know.鈥澛�

But Bency has learned about finding the balance between being supportive and helping students and letting them learn on their own.聽鈥淵ou can鈥檛 solve every issue, but I let him know that I cared.鈥� The student graduated and is still pursuing his dreams. 鈥淪ometimes you want to be the savior, but that's part of growing up,鈥� said Bency. 鈥淪ometimes you have to let that person grow and solve their own problems,鈥� he said.

Bency is honored to be able to be a role model for so many students. 鈥淎 lot of these students, the situations that they're dealing with, they may not have had figures in their life who believe in them or express that they see potential in them,鈥� said Bency. 鈥淚 show them that [potential] every day.鈥�

Bency is inspired by his students and says nothing can compare to the joy he feels when he sees them succeed. 鈥淲hen you see a child who didn't believe in themselves at all at first, and then now they're taking extra steps to put themselves in a better position in life, I mean, there's no better feeling,鈥� he said.

Bency鈥檚 decision to earn a degree at 黑料传送门 wasn鈥檛 one he came to lightly. 鈥淚 had been doing my research for a long time,鈥� he said.聽Because he already had college credits and experience,聽Bency聽knew聽he needed a school where he could put his knowledge to use. Bency found that at 黑料传送门. 鈥淚've been looking for this my whole life, you know,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ike I think in high school, teachers would laugh at me when I'd say,聽鈥楥an I just take my, you know, state final now? I clearly know this stuff,鈥櫬燼nd they would laugh.鈥澛燗t 黑料传送门, Bency was able to advance his education and earn his degree quickly.

鈥淚 believe that there should be a program where I could just show what I know, and I could get credit for it. 黑料传送门 has that,鈥� said Bency. He believes in the vision of 黑料传送门鈥檚 competency-based education model. 鈥淧eople like 黑料传送门 understand that the education model does not have to be that traditional brick and mortar.聽There's more than one way to learn,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t's a beautiful thing to be a part of.鈥澛犅�

When asked what advice he would give to students considering a degree from 黑料传送门, he said, 鈥淪elf-accountability. If you have that and can be consistent with the amount of work you put in, you're going to have a great time at 黑料传送门.鈥�