BY JASON COHEN
“Live with Kelly and Ryan”
recently announced the return
of: “Live’s Top Teacher
Search,” which will honor educators
the week of May 3-7
in celebration of the national
“Teacher Appreciation Week.”
In the past year, teachers
have had to step up like never
before, learning how to keep
students engaged and motivated
while meeting the challenges
of virtual and hybrid
learning.
On April 27, Kelly Ripa and
Ryan Seacrest unveiled the 10
semi-fi nalists and among them
is STEM teacher Jamie Ewing
of PS 277X in Mott Haven.
“I’m humbled and honored,”
he told the Bronx Times.
“It’s been a little overwhelming
in a beautiful way.”
According to Ewing, he had
no idea his friend Tyann Despirt
nominated him.
“One of the main reasons
why he is so deserving of this
award is because of all of his
accomplishments during these
challenging times,” Despirt
said in the submission. “Jamie
buckled down spending hours
creating innovative lessons for
his students.”
The winner, who will receive
$20,000, will be determined
by an online vote by
the “Live” viewing audience.
Viewers can go to KellyandRyan.
com to read all of the
teacher stories and vote on
their favorite. The four fi nalists
will be featured each day
this week on “Live.” The winning
teacher will be revealed
on May 7.
During the pandemic Ewing
had students learn about
how science relates to baseball,
dressed up in different
costumes, bought turkeys for
the students for Thanksgiving
and purchased dinners for
fi rst responders.
As much as Ewing loves
teaching, this is a second chapter
in his life. Ewing, in his
50s, grew up in North Carolina
and was originally a clothing
designer.
After working in fashion
for a while, he realized he
wasn’t happy.
“I was at a point in my career
BRONX TIMES R 60 EPORTER, MAY 7-13, 2021 BTR
where I just wasn’t feeling
fulfi lled,” he recalled.
Ewing explained that he
had always pictured himself
being a teacher, but the time
had never felt right. So, he
switched gears and has been
in the classroom for more than
a decade.
He worked in Seattle for
eight years, fi ve in Washington,
D.C. and the past two in
the Bronx. Not only does he
work in the Boogie Down, but
he resides in the borough as
well.
“Science, math and art
have always been a huge passion
of mine,” he stressed.
“I’ve always taught in neighborhoods
that come with a lot
of challenges.”
Ewing explained that he
brings his artistic background
to the classroom. He is always
trying to make class fun and
meet the students on their
level.
“I’m not afraid of putting
on a costume or acting silly,”
he stated. “I do whatever needs
to be done to make sure the
students are engaged. I can’t
Bronx teacher 1jamie Ewing who is nominated for a top teacher award
from “Live with Kelly and Ryan.” Courtesy of Jamie Ewing
assume they’re going to learn
the way I learned.”
Over the years his dedication
to education has not
gone unnoticed. Ewing was
the 2015 Henry Ford Innovative
Teacher of the Year, 2014
MOHAI Teacher of the year
and the recipient of numerous
other accolades.
But when the pandemic arrived
everything changed. He
had never taught remotely and
his students were dealing with
unprecedented loss and emotional
stress at home.
However, he found ways
for the children to do assignments
using the bare essentials
found in their home and
kept them entertained doing
fun video presentations.
Even with the school year
wrapping up in a couple of
months, he is still showing his
students how much he appreciates
them. His fourth-grade
class is about to fi nish its poetry
writing unit and instead
of putting the work on a bulletin
board, all of their free-verse
poems about social and global
issues/change will be broadcasted
on every LINKNYC
board throughout the Bronx.
“This is how you empower
scholars to learn and build confi
dence,” Ewing commented.
Bronx teacher a semi-fi nalist for
Kelly and Ryan’ top teacher award
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