New Faculty and Staff! Introducing Patrick Harris

Patrick is our new 6th and 7th grade English and Humanities teacher who has a passion for life and a great deal of energy to bring to Roeper. He found out about Roeper when he met Humanities teacher Aaron Robinson when they participated in a Klingenstein Program in New York City. Patrick was recently honored by ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development  as part of their Class of 2020 Emerging Leaders for his work as an educator. This program "contains a diverse group of educators who have been in education for 5 to 15 years and who have made an impact as leaders in their schools, districts, and communities." Congratulations and welcome, Patrick!

Here are Patrick's responses to our questions!

1. Describe your life in six words.   A Never Ending Journey Towards Light

2. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?   If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be Mexico. I've visited the country many times for vacation, and I always struggled getting on the return flight. I would love to explore the country's diverse terrain, education and political system, and soak in the sun for an entire year. 4. What are some things you'd like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?  I'd like to say that I had the best of both words. During the summer and on weekends, I spent time with father who lived on the east side of Detroit, where I spent time playing kickball in open fields, riding my bike farther than I was allowed, and hanging out with my cousins at the local community center. During the week, I spent my time with my mother and grandparents living in Southfield. I was deeply involved with school life in Southfield Public Schools. I spent my evenings preparing for DECA and BPA competitions and participating in school plays. I took piano for 8 years and spent several hours playing The Sims, Rollercoaster Tycoon, and Sim City. Having dual experiences of growing up in the urban city of Detroit and the suburbs has certainly been a highlight of my life. I am very close to my parents. I have 3 brothers and 1 sister. 
6. What is a topic or skill that you love to teach and why? My speciality is teaching "Hidden" history.  I enjoy teaching the "Science" of Race. There are many curriculums, units, and lessons surrounding race and racism in our society, but not many students have wrestled with what race is and where and how the concept was birthed. Understanding this complex history can help students think differently about the ways in which race and racism evolved.