Camelot Teacher Profile: Bruce Carter

Bruce Carter is the Computer Laboratory Teacher at the middle school of Camelot Academy of Escambia County in Pensacola, FL. He has a Bachelor of Administration in Business Management with a minor in Radio Broadcasting. Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Bruce joined Camelot Academy in August of 2014.

What was your previous occupation before coming to Camelot?

Before coming to Camelot, I worked as a Program Director for the Boys & Girls Club in Pensacola, Florida. The students at the Boys & Girls Club and at Camelot are similar to each other in terms of wanting to do more and become a better person. Yes, they all have ups and downs but the overall purpose is to learn and grow, which is the objective of these respected organizations.

What do you do in your Computer Laboratory Teacher role?

In my Middle School Computer Laboratory class, students are responsible for activities such as public speaking, current events, research, group sessions and credit recovery. Students have the opportunity to bring in news articles and discuss in class the issues surrounding current events and how they feel about the topic. The research component is where I help the students navigate their way in preparing for the SAT, and looking up post-secondary institutions.

In what way do you support students through Camelot’s mission of “reengaging, graduating and preparing students for success in K-12 and beyond”?

I support the students by way of preparation. Since I am a middle school computer teacher, my plan is to train, motivate and lead students in a direction where I can assist in their development of transitioning them to the next grade and beyond.

How do you define the “Camelot difference”?

The Camelot difference gives my students a way to have a mentor or someone to look up to. Someone is hands-on in the classroom, ready to care and show them the right direction. Students need someone who does not give up on them and helps them to have a smooth transition back into the school system. That is what the Camelot difference provides and what I impart in my teaching.

What principles do you use to motivate your students?

At our location we have separate male and female classes. In my male classes I promote respect for one another. I dare them to have a conversation with another student without getting aggressive. Another principle is to always be accountable for your actions. It doesn’t matter if you are wrong or in the right be responsible for yourself. Thirdly, learn to appreciate the praise you receive. Ladies, learn to respect “you” first. If you cannot respect yourself, it becomes hard to get respect from anyone else thereafter. Lastly, carry yourself as a lady.

Determining a student’s success can vary in many ways, can you give me a specific success story that empowered you?

Well since it’s really early for me as a new teacher I don’t have any specific stories. However, I do have instances where students enter into Camelot and it empowers me when some come in nervous but then they learn the Camelot objective and learn to be a part of the program and achieve what they couldn’t before in a traditional school. Such as speaking up, participation and upholding a respect for others.

As a professional, how do you implement career education concepts in your classes?

I allow students to look up their career interest in my computer class. The actuality is that every student will not go to college, but we want to encourage them to continue their education so I offer trade school options. The point is to keep them on the right path and keep them engaged for the future.