History teacher and debate coach: Benjamin Harrison

Q: Where are you from?

A: I grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado and lived there until I was 18. I moved out here to go to Lewis and Clark College. 

Q: What made you want to become a teacher?

A: I always knew at some point I wanted to be a teacher. I did speech and debate in high school and then I ended up doing it in college as well. I worked office jobs for like five years out of college and it just wasn’t fulfilling. I kept thinking about how I really enjoy working with kids, so I went back and got my Master of Arts in Teaching.

Q: What were you doing directly before joining Lincoln?

A: I was a Portland Public Schools sub.

Q: Do you teach something other than debate?

A: I teach ninth grade US History: Ethnic Studies as well as an AVID class. I’m going to put a course description together to teach a speech and debate class next year if enough people sign up for it. 

Q: What were your first impressions of Lincoln?

A: That it was a pretty down to earth community despite its reputation for affluence. Everybody talks about Lincoln as the “private public school” but I was really impressed with the level of involvement that parents take in their kids’ academics and extracurriculars. 

Q: Is there anything else you want people to know about you/fun facts?

I love being outdoors, canoeing, backpacking and camping. My partner’s having our first child in about seven weeks.