Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have some absolutely amazing educators! Including Newport High School‘s Nathanial Green. Let’s get to know him a little bit better…
1. What was your favorite subject growing up?
Reading. I have had a voracious appetite for reading since I was young. I loved to enter worlds that were unlike mine, and really start to wrestle with larger life concepts. I loved my 4th and 5th grade teachers Ms. Lancashire and Mr. Cartwright for allowing me to read aloud in class and putting me onto some real classics. I remember to this day reading aloud “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving about Ichabod Crane. Ms. Lancashire not only provided me a safe place to embrace reading, but also praised the theatrical side of me through casting me in “A Christmas Carol” as Ebeneezer Scrooge. It was this experience that really began my love of performance and theatre. Theatre has been a key part of my pedagogy in helping me create dynamic, engaging, and fun lessons.
2. What clubs and extracurricular activities did you take part in as a student?
Theatre. Academic Team. A/V Club President. Tutoring Program. Student Council. National Honor Society. Powerlifting team. Show Choir.
3. Who influenced you to go into teaching?
I have my wife to thank for my exploration into teaching as a career. In the Summer of 2006, she surprised me with the opportunity to be a camp counselor at an English Language camp in Jeju Island, South Korea. During this experience, I had to create lesson plans, take students to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the experience culminated in a class production of Jack and the Beanstalk. I came back from this experience with the curiosity to explore a career in education. I spoke to George Frakes from NKU and entered the Masters of Arts in Teaching that fall.
4. What is your favorite part of your daily teaching life?
Greeting my students and engaging with them! I love showing up for my students in all areas of their lives. Building connections and relationships isn’t just a value of mine, it is a daily habit. Between high fives, hugs, and daps, I greet most students as they walk by room 110. This daily ritual, which at times can be time consuming, especially when the entire basketball team walks by, is something that creates a bond that carries them through their high school years and beyond. One of my favorite traditions here at Newport High School is that students get to choose a teacher to walk with them across the stage at graduation. I teach 7th/8th grade Social Studies and I have been chosen multiple times. It means so much to me.
5. How many years have you been teaching?
19 years full time teaching; 2 years as an elementary PE teacher in Ohio and 17 in Kentucky. Elementary PE teacher may be the greatest job on earth, in case anyone was curious. I did teach college classes for a few years as well.
6. In what ways are you active in your school’s community ( coaching/ clubs/
volunteer work)?
I am an assistant baseball coach and have been for a few years, I was recently also an assistant bowling coach – both for middle school and high school. I am the biggest fan of Read Ready Newport ( a reading initiative to increase reading in Birth-5 kids in Newport) and am pretty obsessed with getting every child in Northern Kentucky ready to read in Kindergarten! I started the first out/public gay club in Northern Kentucky and also ran a fitness club for years. I am the biggest fan of every Newport student in whatever positive thing they are doing – please ask them – I show up at the art show, football games, plays, FCCLA competitions, middle and high school volleyball, band and choir concerts, basketball and more – most if not all, and my students know I am there. I am loud and basically always go nuts for their successes.
7. What is something interesting about you that your students would be surprised to learn?
Nothing because I tell them everything, but, for the folks at home, I think it is surprising that I have been featured on the news on 3 continents prior to this article (North America, Europe, and Asia.). They would actually tell you there is nothing I could tell them because they ask me infinite questions and I answer them.
8. If you could pass along one piece of advice to your students, what would it be?
“It’s ok not to be ok all of the time.”
“I need you to know stuff.”
“Keep on Learning”
All of these catch phrases can be found on my Youtube Channel “Coffee with Mr. Green”. On the channel, I explore different concepts around Social Emotional Learning and model coping strategies, social skills, and ways to live an authentic life. I feel that authenticity is the key for success in life. The more I can influence my students to seek and live out the best versions of themselves, the more I feel successful as an educator.
