Ben Graham 
[email protected]
I am a father, husband, and teacher - and have been teaching history at North Buncombe High School for over 20 years. I grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, and attended
UNC Greensboro, where I studied History and Education. I live here in Weaverville with my wonderful wife Jessica (a counselor here at NBHS), our two sons, Noah and Avery, and a dog named Maggie.
I first discovered the power of history in my youth, by tracing the influences of my favorite rock bands, and spending weekends exploring the colonial village of Old Salem. At age seventeen, I spent just under three weeks in Europe, and it cemented my passion for all things historical.
I was fortunate enough to start my career here at NBHS, and have loved every minute of it. Constantly surrounded by amazing teachers and inspirational students - I look forward to teaching every day. I believe that I am here to serve my students, and that everything is worthy of our curiosity.
NEW STUDENTS! Your may sign up for my my Google Classroom with links in syllabus.
For more information, I write and reflect on teaching on my blog www.punkrockpedagogy.blogspot.com
{>>This is me (in high school, at age 17) in Paris - on a trip to Europe that changed my life, and sparked my love of history.}
Courses:
- Advanced Placement World History, American History II
Education:
B.A. History cum laude, UNC-Greensboro, 1999
Secondary Education Certification, UNC- Greensboro, 1999
Advanced Placement Institute, UNC -Charlotte, 2001
National Board Certification, 2007; 2014
AP World History Exam Reading, Colorado State University, 2008
Career Highlights:
- NBHS Teacher of the Year 2002-2003
- Member of the Master Teacher Corps ("Teaching American History" Federal Grant), 2004 - 2007
- Coca-Cola's Joseph Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award, 2007
- Wal-Mart Corporation Teacher of the Year (Buncombe County, NC), 2008 - 2009
- Advanced Placement World History Exam Reading, Colorado State University, 2008
- Mountain Express, Best Teacher in Weaverville, NC, 2013
- Traveling and teaching in Germany with Go Global NC, June 2017
- 96.5 Teacher of the Month - February, 2020
So lucky to have had the pleasure to introduce many students to: the Mongols, Fugazi, Guernica, passive resistance, The New Deal, Chinese Dynasties (in song form), Howard Zinn, and Roman engineering (did you notice I switched the font to "Roman"? :).. . this job rules.
Activities/Clubs:
BCS Global Ambassador 🌎
Social Justice Club 💪
Gay Straight Alliance 🏳🌈