SHS Teacher Mr. Carter Nominated for NJ Governor's Educator of the Year

Written by: Elise Kerim 

  Mr. Carter is more than just a teacher. While my experiences with him may only include DECA competition bus rides, hearing him promote the bowling team in the cafeteria, and listening to Ms. Carter, his daughter, tell stories about him- after this interview, I felt like I had been a student for years. That's Mr. Carter for you - looking to create a comforting environment that excites students and allows them to flourish in a way that is best suited to their own unique qualities. Mr. Carter was recently nominated for NJ Governor's Educator of the Year Award, an honor rightfully deserved.

Mr. Carter was in the United States Army from 1975 to 1978, and would later become a Bloomfield police dispatcher. He went on to work for ten years with AT&T and Prudential, all before teaching at a private school from 1993 until his arrival at SHS in 1998. He credits his younger brother for influencing him to delve into a career in education. He began work as an educator at a private school where students attended after being kicked out of other school districts. Mr. Carter is a Special Education teacher- he always was; the private school that began his teaching career required it, and he remained one ever since.

During his time at Sparta High, Mr. Carter recounts a particular student who was on the bowling team with him. He recalls the student as being a hard worker, but one who struggled at times. Just the night before this interview, he saw him at the local library, now 30 years old. He is now working towards getting a degree. "A lot of the things you want, you don't get immediately," Carter recaps after his conversation with the former student.

When asked to tell a unique story about a student, he cuts me off mid-sentence with, "I can tell you why my beard is long right now."

Of course, I inquire as to why. He mentions that years ago, a student asked him, "Mr. Carter, what happens when your beard grows out?" From there, it started a new tradition: he began to grow out his beard in November to dress up as Santa in December - but then, since it's cold, he kept it for a little longer until the winter months pass by. He partners up with St. Baldrick's, a nonprofit organization to raise funds for children battling cancer. In just ten minutes, he raised $600.

The unfortunate truth is that teachers are not only underpaid, but underappreciated. Great teachers know this is true. Great teachers also know that it doesn't matter. Mr. Carter believes it is upsetting that recently, politicians have been putting teachers in a poor light. "I don't care what job you do," Carter began in all seriousness, "don't judge [teaching] until you do it. Think about race car driving - do you think just because you have a licence and like to drive fast, you could do it? No way. Go in there and try it - just like teaching."

When bombarded with so many stresses in life, school work or college decisions and other responsibilities, students may need a spark of motivation from their educators when managing things gets tough; the fact of the matter is, students have a lot on their plates and sometimes need a spark of confidence that they cannot find in themselves. "It's important to encourage your students - and never talk down to them," Mr. Carter shares, "I engage them in other ways - like attending their out of school events - concerts, games...I try to attend all the ones that I can."

It's true that the Sparta community is fantastic, considering the support given to schools. It’s evident that Sparta wants young adults to do well - if we have an uneducated mass, then what is going to come? "You guys are the future!" Mr. Carter gleefully exclaims. "The world changes at such a fast pace, so you have to be ready and willing to accept the challenge. There are great teachers at SHS - everyone is in your corner."