Mr. Perkey is a beloved teacher here at Wyoming High School that has inspired many students through his electric personality and positive attitude.
Mr. Perkey’s path to teaching began in eighth grade, when he first realized he wanted to spend his life in the classroom. He decided to become a teacher because of his eighth grade teacher, “My eighth grade teacher made class so much fun,” he said. “He had such a passion for it, he was just so excited to see everybody every day. I remember thinking, “If this is what work is like, that’s something I want to do for the rest of my life,” He exclaimed.
Mr. Perkey is not only passionate about social studies but he strives to make strong connections with his students, “Obviously, I think social studies is important,” he says, “but I don’t think being the smartest person in the room makes you the best teacher. To me, teaching is about building relationships, being able to motivate and encourage students, and coming up with fun lessons.” He states that he wants “to motivate students to do well and help them see that there’s value in what they’re learning.” “Jackie Doley, who’s now retired, and Mr. Hose were both huge influences,” he said. “They taught me the importance of having a great attitude, building relationships, and showing up for students. I really try to model how they taught me to care.” Mr Perkey wants to be a role model to his students like how Jackie Doley and Mr. Hose were to him. They taught him how to make connections and understand his topics better. He wants to make the same impact on his students as they did on him.
Mr Perkey understands that it’s easy to not like a specific subject but he hopes to help students find something they love, “I know not every student can give 100% every single day,” he said. “If there are five questions to answer, I might tell them, ‘Just try to get two done today.’ The goal is to show some effort and build from there.”
Outside the classroom, Mr Perkey enjoys staying active and spending time with family. “I love sports and coaching,” he says. “My wife and I like to play Nintendo Switch, go for walks with our dogs, and watch TV shows together. In the summer, I love going boating with my family, golfing, and just being outdoors. But I also enjoy relaxing and hanging out with my wife.” Mr. Perkey hopes to not only be a great teacher, but a great mentor making a difference in the classroom one student at a time.