Aubrey Bennett, a dedicated 12th-grade U.S. Government, Economics, and Advanced Placement African American History teacher at George Washington Carver High School, has been named the Secondary Teacher of the Year for Birmingham City Schools.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan, executive leadership, and school administrators informed Mr. Bennett of the award during a surprise presentation today.
Mr. Bennett, a 17-year veteran in education, has spent the last 11 years inspiring students at Carver High School. Growing up in a single-parent household, Mr. Bennett found his passion for social studies in a classroom in East Syracuse, New York, thanks to his fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Sampson. This early inspiration has driven him to provide his students with opportunities to see the world through a different lens, including field trips to the Legacy Museum, Voter Round Table Forums, Financial Literacy Seminars, and African Food Tastings.
As the sponsor of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Carver High School Attendance Liaison, Mr. Bennett has worked tirelessly to increase student attendance and engagement. His efforts have led to a significant decrease in chronic absenteeism and the creation of monthly events aimed at combating truancy.
Mr. Bennett's dedication to his students extends beyond the classroom. He has made history at Carver High School by having five out of 14 students earn qualifying scores on the African American Studies AP exam. His leadership roles include Project-Based Learning Liaison, Social Studies Department Chair, Financial Literacy Coordinator, and Imagine Learning Facilitator for Virtual Learning.
Mr. Bennett's commitment to education and his students is evident in his continuous pursuit of professional growth. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Management from Marist College and a Master's in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix. He is currently working towards becoming a National Board Certified Teacher.
Birmingham City Schools congratulates Mr. Aubrey Bennett on this well-deserved recognition and wishes him the best of luck in the state competition.
