‘Teacher of the Month’ inspires AP Chemistry students with creative experiments

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Keith Perry has been a staple at Laney High School for the past two decades, but he didn’t always plan to be a teacher.

“This is the only school I’ve ever been in, I was a research chemist up in New York for 8 years before I started to teach,” Mr. Perry said.

Mr. Perry went back to school at UNCW to get his teaching certification in 2000, and started working at Laney High School in 2003. In addition to teaching Honors and AP Chemistry, he also coaches swimming.

The veteran teacher explains why he transitioned from the research field to the classroom.

“I always wanted to inspire students, especially chemistry is one of those subjects people have all these bad memories about,” Perry said. “So I thought I could maybe try to change that.”

Mr. Perry was nominated by a parent for his ability to get kids excited about a subject many students dread.

“My teaching style is- they’re learning by doing,” Perry said. “They’re going to be hands on, they’re going to be running experiments, they’re going to be doing activities, and a lot of times it’s those activities that allows that light bulb to go on.”

In addition to a $400 prize from sponsors Beach Bagels and Subs and Fulford Heating and Cooling, Mr. Perry also received an additional $200 from an anonymous donor. That additional prize will be in effect through the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

Assistant Principal Jack Poulos says the honor is well deserved.

“Mr. Perry is just one of the many great teachers we have here at Laney,” Poulos said. “He does a great job with the rigor and the instruction and the best thing is that he advocates for our kids in and outside of the classroom.”

Click here to nominate a teacher for the honor.