Trinity Springs Middle School teacher/coach Erik Benner is not used to all the attention he's been getting lately.
In the past few months, he's traveled to both coasts to walk the red carpet for film premieres. He's been asked for autographs and interviews."It's weird when [U.S. Education Secretary] Arne Duncan knows you by name and talks about you in speeches," Benner said. "It's been an amazing trip."Benner, 40, is one of four public-school teachers from across the nation featured in the new documentary American Teacher.The film is based on the book Teachers Have It Easy: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of America's Teachers. Benner was interviewed for the book eight years ago after a friend of a friend suggested him to one of the authors. The short phone interview turned into a chapter on his struggles to work two jobs and support a family."One of the producers was compelled by my story, so a film crew followed me around for a week," he said.The film premiered on National Teacher Day, May 3, at the San Francisco International Film Festival and made its world premiere at the 2011 "Education Nation" Summit in New York in September.Benner has been a history teacher for 16 years. He student-taught in Keller in 1996 and then taught in Grapevine before returning to the Keller district six years ago."I started out wanting to coach," he said. "I knew I wanted to be a coach at 18, and then I got really interested in history. I guess it's something that gets in your blood."His daughter, a freshman at Midwestern State University, recently told him she wants to major in education."It's the best profession in the world. If somebody paid me to go back to college, I still wouldn't quit," he said.Benner loves teaching so much that he doesn't mind spending 70 hours a week at school during football season, and more time at home after hours planning lessons and grading papers. He also coaches basketball, cross country and track.The hard part is picking up a second job 20 to 30 hours a week after football season. He drives a truck for Floor & Decor in Arlington for most of the year. "A lot of men leave the profession to find better-paying jobs," he said.Benner said the strain of working two jobs and being gone from home so often is what cost him his marriage.A Keller teacher with 15 years of experience makes about $52,600.Benner hopes that the documentary will help people understand that teachers work far more than 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. nine months a year. Teachers are required to take continuing-education courses and spend many hours each week planning lessons and grading papers.Benner teaches 150 students each day and grades their papers and tests in the evenings. Coaching duties have become more taxing with recent district budget cuts. Still, he considers himself fortunate."After traveling to both coasts, I love Keller even more," he said. "With the stuff we're doing in the classroom, we're a lot better off than other areas."Sandra Engelland, 817-431-2231Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
