You can learn a lot about teachers by their classrooms, and Mr. Evan Post’s room has a lot to say. Full of posters of philosophers, art from students and even a stuffed platypus, his room reflects the varied interests of its occupant. 

 

For International Baccalaureate students in English and Philosophy classes, the thoughtful debates, complex books and philosophical concepts Mr. Post teaches make his room come alive.

 

Mr. Post is a loved and respected figure on the Grimsley campus and has earned the admiration of not only his students, but also his colleagues. 

 

“He’s literally like a professeur,” said Ms. Sarah Lord, an Advanced Placement US History teacher at Grimsley. “He’s extremely knowledgeable, patient, he’s very understanding, and he provides support to all of us as teachers and students. He’s what you strive to be.” 

 

His colleagues showed their respect for him by naming him the Teacher of the Year for Grimsley. 

 

“It’s nice to get the feeling that my colleagues think a lot of what I’m doing or think I’m doing a good job, particularly given that I think we’ve got so many good teachers here,” Mr. Post said. “Their esteem means a lot to me for that reason.” 

 

Mr. Post chuckles as he muses that perhaps when his students return for a 50th high school reunion, they will hobble over to a plaque in the main building, see his name and reminisce. “I do like the idea that, as I’m looking ahead towards retiring sometime in the not too distant future, I’m gonna become one of the ghosts of Grimsley,” he said.

 

But for those who know him, he will be remembered for more than just a few awards. 

 

Mr. Ben Barnard coordinates the IB and AP programs at Grimsley and is a friend of Mr. Post. They have taught together for nearly 20 years now.  “He works harder than any other teacher I know,” he said. 

 

“He’s really good at giving feedback to his students. He really takes their learning to write as his goal. He’s really developed the craft,” said Mr. Barnard, who teaches IB Theory of Knowledge. 

 

“I think he really cares about his students, he cares about his colleagues, and he cares very much about what he does.”

 

Noah Levine, a senior in the IB Program at Grimsley, has benefited from Mr. Post’s teaching for two years in English and Philosophy. 

 

“Mr. Post is an inspirational teacher and mentor who is generous with his knowledge and his time,” Levine said. “I consider myself fortunate to have had Mr. Post.”

 

Mr. Post engages with his students in his philosophy class, encourages them to ask questions and raise objections, and takes their thoughts seriously. Nikhil Nataraju, a junior in the IB Program who is also in IB English and Philosophy, often participates in the class discussions. 

 

“I would describe him as a teacher who strives to make a positive impact on a child’s education,” Nataraju said. 

 

Mr. Post has been a teacher for 31 years, and he has been teaching at Grimsley close to 20 years. And while he said recognition is nice, it’s not why he does what he does. 

 

“I like learning,” Mr. Post said. “I like to think my students learn, but the thing that motivates me is my own learning. By being in the classroom I’m putting myself in a position of having to keep learning, because I teach very bright students who ask interesting questions, and I’m always trying to be better at helping them understand.”

 

Mr. Post has taught several different classes at Grimsley, including creative writing, and different levels of English including AP. But for the past few years he has been teaching IB English SL and IB Philosophy. In addition, he supports student-led clubs by acting as an advisor for The Whirlie Post and the Philosophy Club.

 

“I love the things that I teach,” Mr. Post said. “I love the books that I teach in my English classes, the ideas that I teach in my philosophy class, the arguments that I teach them and philosophers. These things are nourishing to me. I really enjoy that.”