(WHAS11)-The latest winner of the WHAS-TV e.ON U.S. Excel Award is the great story teller of Fern Creek High School, Bob Haire.
The school’s faculty was in black tie for the presentation, which was the second Excel winner in the last year for Fern Creek.
Haire teaches U.S. History to juniors at Fern Creek.
In History, Bob says one story just leads to another, and that makes him a teacher who motivates students to high levels of achievement.
Haire doesn’t usually teach in a tuxedo, but formal dress has become a tradition on Excel Award days at Fern Creek.
Haire excels because his History classes are as current as today’s headlines, and with the financial contribution from e.ON, he can continue to bring history alive.
“I’ve got the best job in America. It’s so easy to relate what went on 150 years ago to today because people are people and relationships are relationships and it just keeps coming back,” Haire says.
He keeps coming back because he loves to tell the stories of history.
Fern Creek’s principal, Dr. Houston Barber says, “Bob Haire is everything to Fern Creek. In fact, his passion, his enthusiasm, his commitment to kids, his dedication represents what Fern Creek is all about.”
And at a time of celebration and joy, Haire still remembers a tragedy, his 29-year-old son that he lost in an auto accident only a month ago.
“It’s that spirit that he has given me and this award, like I said, it’s not really about yesterday, it’s about what I can become tomorrow,” said Haire. “I really can earn that award tomorrow by being a better teacher.”
In this case, better is relative. As a teacher, Bob Haire already excels.
