Sitting across from Mr. Baker in the crowded, noisy cafeteria, I learned many details about his childhood and career. A little distracted by the abnormal conversations around us, he said, “I like what I do.”
Jason Baker was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1972 while his mother was on a shopping trip, but he was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I imagine Jason Baker never thought about how much of an impact he would make in the lives of his future students.
Mr. Baker went to various schools throughout his childhood but eventually graduated from Bishop Shanahan High School. Baker always liked government and politics because his parents were active in local government and politics.
After he graduated high school, his first career was working in government for government agencies. He then went back to school and got his teaching degree because his wife, a teacher herself, gave him the idea of becoming a teacher.
Mr. Baker is a very educated man, with degrees in anthropology, criminal justice, public administration, and government from various universities like Penn State, Shippensburg University, and Carlisle University.
Baker’s first school that he taught at was York City High School in Eastern York. After teaching at this school he wanted an opportunity to teach specifically government and politics classes at a high school. He chose Spring Grove because he enjoyed the community environment and subjects he was selected to teach.
Mr. Baker has continued to teach at Spring Grove Area High School and has become involved in creating many other courses, coaching the mock trial team, and creating and coaching our bowling team. Baker says that being so involved in this school is about building relationships with kids, offering knowledge to them, and allowing kids to be comfortable because they are familiar with him.
