Eric Perry has come to TJ not only to teach students but to prepare them for their dynamic futures.
Photo by Ed Gloor
Last school year, Eric Perry came to TJ to join the Special Education Department to teach vocations and life skills to TJ students, in the hope that he could help improve their lives and their educational skills.
Eric Perry was born in 1965 in Ocean Port, New Jersey where he grew up with two older brothers and one sister. Perry spent a lot of time traveling around as a child because his father was in the military, but later in his father’s career he was stationed here in Colorado at Fitzsimons Air Force Base, and that is where Perry spent the rest of his high school and college years, eventually marrying his wife, Janna.
Perry went to Hinkley High School where he was athletically involved. “I played football as a wide receiver, basketball as a point guard, and baseball,” said Perry. He later attended Colorado State University from 1983 through 1987 and got his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. During his days at CSU, he tried out for the football team but unfortunately did not get any action on the field. “As a walk on it was a reality check for being small, but I knew it would be worth a try even though I didn’t know if I was going to get playing time. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be,” said Perry. Later Perry got his Master’s Degree in Organizational Management at the University of Phoenix in 1996
Before coming to TJ, Perry spent twenty years teaching people how to use computers in the private sector and being a systems trainer. “Corporate America was good; it taught me how to manage people, time, and it allowed me to get my Masters,” said Perry. During his time at Chase Bank he also taught Junior Achievement for six years to the Denver Metro and Northern Colorado schools. Perry says that he is very grateful for his job, but he wanted something more.
Perry says that he eventually changed his mind and wanted to become a teacher. He was influenced by his desire to work with students and his father’s passion for teaching, as a DPS educator for twenty years, as well as his wife’s love for teaching for thirteen years. “Teaching was a good way to give back, and I want to help close the achievement gaps in DPS as much as I can,” said Perry.
Soon TJ caught Perry’s eye and he was hired to work with special education students as a vocation instructor, teaching life transition skills. Students and staff are very pleased with Perry’s teaching skills and how he is contributing to benefit TJ students in the best way possible. “For being a new teacher, he is really cool and he wants us to learn new things. He is very nice, and he helps with any work we need help on; he helps us feel good about going to class and life in general,” said one of Perry’s Students, Senior Kierra Morrison.
Being a new teacher, Perry says there are still many challenges that he has ahead of him, but nothing he cannot adjust to for the future. “A challenge for me is managing my time and still doing everything I want to do, and being able to teach and do all the paperwork that comes with teaching,” said Perry.
Perry says even though there are some monumental challenges, he still enjoys many things about his job and working at TJ. “I love working with the students in life skills. I don’t use a textbook and I get to interact with my students and I get to watch their progress; that’s what I enjoy the most,” he says. “I also have learned a lot from my students and the experiences and the challenges of their generation,” Perry added.
Perry has a lot of support from the staff and they have nothing but good things to say about his work and teaching qualities. “Eric adapts his real world experiences in a way that engages and interests his students. There’s no doubt that Eric’s contributions at TJ will benefit us all; he’s all around a great guy,” said fellow Special Education Teacher Mike Kontrelos.
Principal Sandra Just says Perry has been doing a very outstanding job at TJ with the staff and environment. “Mr. Perry has been a nice addition to our staff. He brings energy and passion to his class and has been able to share his experience from the business world with his students. This has allowed students to connect learning to the real world,” said Just.
Perry still has time out of school to do many things that he loves, and is very passionate about his free time. He says he enjoys outdoor activities with his family, including hiking and camping, and when they have time, they love to travel. Perry also volunteers with Junior Achievement and Habitat for Humanity. “You have to give back; it is part of life’s cycle. You give back and teach others to give back,” said Perry.
Perry says that he is happy to be working here at TJ and enjoys being able to bring his great qualities and expectations to TJ and his students. “All of my twenty years in the corporate world do not add up to my one year teaching here at TJ, as far as the feeling of being fulfilled is concerned,” said Perry.
