In five years of teaching, John "Jay" Crocker has gained the reputation that many teachers take 20 years to achieve. In his first year of teaching AP English and Language, 50 percent of the students passed the AP exam with a 3 or higher, a rare feat for a first-year AP instructor. Crocker teaches 10th and 11th graders a wide variety of English courses, from AP to remedial, at Ballard High School in Louisville, KY. He is making great leaps in the art of teaching that far exceed his years of experience.
In addition to his course load, Crocker is involved in teaching pursuits as an extracurricular activity. He teaches an extra humanities class after school in the fall, where students study about a specific country. Then, the class culminates in the spring with a trip to the country they studied, which Crocker hosts. Crocker sponsors the National Honor Society at Ballard High, mentors other teachers, and was recently selected to teach the Governor's Scholars Program, a six-week program for the state's most talented students.
Reading and humanities scores are the subjects where Ballard High students score highest on standardized tests, due much in part to Crocker's skill as an educator. In addition to teaching, Crocker is very active in the community. He is an Eagle Scout and a member of several district-level committees. Crocker's professional excellence is matched by the quality of his character.
2001 University of Louisville, B.A.
