Ironically, Mr. Boon Boonyapat says he "got trapped into teaching" eleven years ago. He has been selected as Grady's as well as Atlanta Public School's Teacher of the Year. Currently, Mr. Boonyapat is chairman of the science department and teaches math and physics.
He remembers his first weeks teaching. "Everything was going well and then about the fourth week, I walked into the office and saw a sign that said ASSEMBLY."
After his first two periods filled with students eager to take a break from learning, he realized he was unfamiliar with this "assembly" at third period. "I walked into the gym and it was loud and noisy... I wondered why these people were jumping up and down."
Boonyapat, who is a native of Thailand, had never experienced a pep rally at the time and considered it a "misuse of energy." He questioned students' reasoning in coming to school, only to receive replies that helped him develop his present philosophy for teaching. "One student stood up and said 'We come to school to eat' and I was so upset until I realized he was telling the truth," he said.
Presently, he believes teachers have more than an academic responsibility to students. "I have learned how to be not only a teacher, but a student along with them... a counselor, a friend, and lastly a parent," Boonyapat said.
With both an undergraduate and masters in physics, Mr. Boonyapat entered the business community for his first career. "I was paid well and the work was pleasant, but not fulfilling," Mr. Boonyapat said.
After encouragement from personal friends who were educators he became "trapped into teaching" by his desire to help youth. "It did not take me long to see that most students tried to avoid physics because it was perceived as too difficult," he said. Since Boonyapat began teaching physics at Grady the enrollment for physics has increased from 16 students to four regular classes. In addition 45 students are now taking advanced placement physics.
He sees a need for more effective teachers to inspire youth to take more challenging classes. "The solution to American education has and continues to be having the best possible teacher in the classroom," Mr. Boonyapat stated. Passionately, he added there is a struggle to find teachers who "possess the skills and patience to transmit information to another."
He offers a different perspective because he is not an American native. "I have been in the US since 1981 ... in kindergarten I learned how to read and write English but I learned how to speak it here by looking at Bob Barker [the host of Price is Right]," Mr. Boonyapat said.
Boonyapat, who spent six years in a Buddhist monastery, considers self discipline and problem solving skills as virtues. Throughout his classroom, pictures of Albert Einstein represent this ideal. "In the front of my classroom there is a sign that says, 'THINK' and we take this word seriously as our personal and class goal."
Being actively involved in the school socially is important to Mr. Boonyapat also. He is presently an advisor for the Math/Science Club, Earth Club and National Honor Society along with being the varsity boys soccer coach.
Mr. Boonyapat is even more active outside of school. "I work every night except Tuesdays at Phuket [the family restaurant owned by his youngest sister]" Boonyapat said he serves as a waiter, bus boy, or receptionist.
During the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, Boonyapat volunteered and felt the opportunity was rewarding, especially for students. "People came together from all different cultures and stayed focused and many students have never seen that; before they just think the world is Atlanta," Boonyapat said. fie will be representing the National Olympic Committee of Cape Verde in the 2000 Olympics hosted by Australia.
He often tells students about his traveling experiences. "I'm not teaching only academically," he said with a smile. "I'm teaching as a whole."