When asked to describe a stellar teacher, students idolize one who helps them learn through various methods, takes interest in their work, and helps throughout the school year. Entering high school, kids hope to find teachers who help them learn and develop habits to ease their educational experience. As the teacher responsible for introducing Magnet kids to their first AP class, Coach James Auld’s fulfills his responsibilities as a teacher, while retaining an easing sense of humor.

“The entire class is half preparing students for AP class and the other half is teaching them the course,” AP Human Geography teacher Auld said. “For me, breaking kids from middle school habits and accommodating them into high school is a big part of what I do.”

The difficulty of an AP course becomes evident to students soon after they enter Auld’s AP Human Geography classroom. The workload increases while the time for the class does not. Auld spends countless hours preparing lessons to help students develop an interest for the subject and understand it.

“Coach Auld makes learning rigorous topics fun and interesting. His way of teaching engages all students and encourages participation,” freshman Patrick Wright said.

With the ability to allow students autonomy, Coach Auld encourages kids to work harder and prepare for the rigor of high school and college classes.

Coach Auld also teaches Current Issues, a class offering lively discussions about current world problems. With limited work and an open-space feel, the class does not imitate the setting of other educational classes. However, it does allow for students to learn about important issues impacting their future.

“AP Human teaches students about where people go and why, while Current Issues gives examples of what they do once they get there,” junior Madison Kemp said. “I liked current issues because we got to have a lot of discussions about things that actually affect us and [we] could voice our opinions about politics and society.”

Students who attend any of Coach Auld’s classes know his sarcastic sense of humor. Easily able to bring students spirits up, his tone and jokes can make the whole class laugh and forget about the stress brought up by school.  However, a teacher must pinpoint which students they can or cannot pick on.

Recalling on past experiences, Auld explained, “I am not always perfect in that regard. I have had to apologize to more than one student who didn’t want to engage in banter. You try to feel people out, find the vocal ones and sarcastic ones. See if they engage in the class and if they smile.”

Coach Auld’s ability to prepare students for rigor allows them to develop habits for success in other classes.

“Without Coach Auld’s teaching in AP Human Geography and the notes for the reading quizzes, I wouldn’t have been able to work alone and get things done on my own time,” junior Nadin Catak said. “This helped me for AP World History because I was then able to manage my time to read. This is also currently helping me in AP Environmental Science because I know how to take a limited amount of notes that include all the necessary information.”

His humor mixed with his care for every student, Coach Auld goes beyond fulfilling the role of a teacher and exemplifies one of a mentor.