DONOR NEWS | JANUARY 2020
Teacher Spotlight: Ben Harris
Ben Harris is in his fifth year at Summit Academy, where he oversees the School to Work Program. All Summit High School students participate in the School to Work Program. Students take career education courses and visit employment sites in the community to learn about different jobs and the skills necessary to hold them. Upperclassmen are placed in off-campus internships to gain real-world work experience.
Ben gains motivation from Summit’s hardworking students who regularly face adversity with a positive attitude. He takes great pride in seeing his students in internships and employment opportunities around Louisville. This school year, Summit students have been placed in internships at the Kentucky Science Center, Down Syndrome Louisville, Goodwill, the YMCA, Carriage House and many more locations!
Ben has a PGCE in Education from the University of Greenwich, London. He has nearly two decades of experience teaching and writing curriculum for students with learning differences. While in London, Ben wrote curriculum for students to learn employability skills, and that curriculum was accepted into a national framework qualification.
Ben is married and has two children (with a third one due in March 2020!). While Ben and his wife have lived in several major cities (London, Chicago and Los Angeles), they are happy and grateful to have settled down to raise their family in Louisville. When he’s not working, Ben enjoys spending time with his family and playing soccer.
“The best part of my job is to advocate for our students, and inform employers what a fantastic employee our students can be if given the opportunity. And then to see them at work, many in paid positions, makes everything worthwhile. My older brother has learning differences, so I understand the challenges our students face, and I also gain great satisfaction from their achievements.” – Ben
Join us for Summit Academy’s 7th Annual Bluegrass, Bourbon & BBQ event on Friday, March 6, 2020! This fun, casual evening has a little something for everyone – live bluegrass music, delicious bourbon and BBQ samples, a buffet, an open bar, fabulous live and silent auctions and the famous Wall of Bourbon!
Interested in learning more about Summit Academy?
Join us for a special, behind the scenes tour! All tours are free and include a light breakfast or lunch.
