James Weiner

2020 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalist

“Kirk explained to us that during the Revolutionary War, kids our age were marching into gunfire … for the chance of creating a country of their own, and we were willing to give that up for a good grade one day in class.”

From the moment he challenged his class to swear allegiance to the pirate flag or receive a zero, history teacher Kirk Upton had a transformative impact on the way James Weiner saw the world. Rather than simply being names and dates, history became the stories of real people – people with their own fears and dreams, triumphs and failures. Today, James Weiner wants to carry on his teacher’s legacy by imbuing his own students with a deeper understanding of the lives of others.

Here is James' story about Mr. Upton, the teacher who inspired him.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2020 Scholarship Finalists page.

Thinking of applying to this year's program? Learn more on our Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships page.