An unexpected path led Mr. Davis to his chosen career. After taking a Sign Exact English (SEE) class in high school, Mr. Davis was informed by a member of the Deaf community that what he had been taught was not an official form of sign language. This realization prompted him to take classes in ASL and ultimately led him to seek a career in becoming an ASL interpreter. While still in college, friends sought his help with English papers. Through helping his friends, Mr. Davis discovered a great passion for English, prompting him to take more related classes and ultimately leading him to become an English teacher.
Presently, Mr. Davis teaches Honors English 11 and English 11. In the past, he has also taught English 10, English 12, and Creative Writing. He especially loves teaching because of each day's differences, as his students bring humor and energy that does not exist in any other profession. He enjoys teaching not only because of his love of English but also his desire to help students reach "light bulb" moments and help them navigate through difficult periods of their lives, enabling them to thrive beyond the classroom. Through his many years of teaching experience, not only has he learned from his students but also from his children. He recognizes that having children has deeply impacted his teaching as they give him various ways to relate to his students while also reminding him of the stress and anxiety school can create for students.
Beyond being an English teacher, he is also the sponsor of The Muse, the high school's long-running, award-winning literary arts magazine, which competes yearly at Columbia University. The Muse is a collection of literature, visual art, dance, music, and many other creative mediums submitted by students and teachers. Mr. Davis is very devoted to creating the magazine each year and states the purpose of The Muse is to "celebrate art produced by students and teachers.” Additionally, Mr. Davis is the co-sponsor of the ASL Club with Ms. O'Daniel. The club seeks to connect students with the Deaf community and organizations while encouraging students to learn more sign language.
Finally, Mr. Davis finds many ways to encourage his students. When asked about one piece of advice for his students, Mr. Davis would encourage them to try new things because, in his life experience, this has led to new opportunities he would not have believed existed.
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