Dec. 15 will mark one year of teaching for Cain Harbin. Harbin is currently the eighth grade physical science teacher at Foley Middle School.

“I knew I wanted to become a teacher after completing my pre-residency for the University of South Alabama,” he says. “This was my first experience as a teacher and was a requirement for the NOYCE Pathway to Science master’s program at USA. For my pre-residency, I taught at Clark-Shaw Magnet School in Mobile and fell in love with teaching.”

Harbin’s favorite aspect of teaching is the difference he can make in his students’ lives.

“I love having students visit me from the previous year telling me how much they learned from my class,” he says.

There was one teacher in particular that inspired Harbin to take up teaching.

“My ninth grade science teacher, Mr. Snider,” says Harbin, “always made class fun, and really influenced me in my decision to pursue a degree in biology and later my alternative master’s in secondary education.”

One thing Harbin hopes to instill in his students is a drive to push themselves to succeed.

“In my classroom,” he says, “I frequently stress to my students how important it is to do their very best in every assignment or task, no matter how big or small.”

TEACHER PROFILE

TEACHER: Cain Harbin

SCHOOL: Foley Middle School

SUBJECT(S) TAUGHT: Eighth grade physical science

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF: During my spare time I love to shoot 35 mm film photography, refinish furniture, read Stephen King novels and play video games.