Teacher Spotlight: Pickford's Barton St. Peter builds computer class from scratch
PICKFORD — With every passing year, computer sciences become more and more important in daily life, and one man is responsible for bringing Pickford students into the computer age.
Barton St. Peter of Pickford High is a computer science expert who grew up in the Soo. As a kid and teen, St. Peter was always interested in computers, and over the course of his high school career taught himself everything he could about the machines.
By the time he got to college, St. Peter decided he would begin focusing on business, as he didn't think computers, although fun and interesting, would be his career.
After years working in and managing stores around his hometown, St. Peter decided that regardless of what he studied, he was going to find a job he could be passionate about.
"I got a two-year degree in business administration because I assumed I would just be managing stuff my whole life," said St. Peter. "I was just working as a store manager and I kind of got sick of the life."
Working as IT for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District, St. Peter was able to incorporate his passion into his work.
After his first year of IT, St. Peter saw an opportunity to introduce the students in the region to the kind of fun that made him fall in love with computers in the first place with an esports club. After the club was created, dozens of students joined up.
"As soon as I started working in schools I met a couple of teachers that really inspired me and changed my life because the way that they operated everyday with students and the meaning and fulfillment they seem to get out of helping kids was super contagious," said St. Peter.
Through leading and organizing the club, St. Peter also discovered that he loved helping students find their passion.
He began a position at Pickford High School last year, taking over the only computer sciences class in the school. Since St. Peter joined the school staff, the number of students involved in the intro to computer science classes has doubled.
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After his first year teaching, St. Peter was able to create a new class of his very own, which focuses on cybersecurity.
The class is for students who pass the ninth grade level intro to computer sciences class. It is designed to be more of an advanced class where student not only learn about cybersecurity, but also research specific jobs in the cybersecurity field and how they are evolving.
"Ransomware protection is one of the largest growing industries," said St. Peter. "The job opportunities for cybersecurity are immense, the salary ranges are wonderful and the whole world needs them."
While the main focus of the class is personal and corporate security, such as avoiding scams, viruses and other malware, a large portion of the class also helps students find their own passion in computers.
St. Peter said the reason he was so passionate about his own education is because he basically taught himself and was able to focus on the things he enjoyed the most. So in order to keep his students passionate about what they are working on, they get a choice in projects.
"When I was in sixth grade, somebody gifted me a few junk computers from the school and I would play around and work on them on my own," said St. Peter. "So that's why I have the skills I have to this day. It was this carefree environment where it was all about me and what I wanted to do and I've learned from that and I'm bringing that environment now to these students."
After they complete the required units, students can choose a subject from a wide variety of computer skills, including online gaming, programming languages, esports and digital media.
St. Peter is currently going back to school in his free time to obtain a degree in occupational education.
"These kids out here are some of the best kids I've ever met, and that says a lot because as an IT professional I had to go all over the place to different schools," said St. Peter.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Pickford teacher Barton St. Peter builds computer class from scratch
