On May 29th, the senior class of 2014 will finally walk across the stage at Constitution Hall and accept their high school diplomas. However, before they leave Paint Branch behind, they will experience the once-in-a-lifetime pomp and circumstance that defines graduation.

This year’s senior class – after they listen to their Top Scholar speaker – will hear the voice of a very familiar person on stage as PB’s own Mr. White will provide this year’s commencement address.

When he first received the news that he had been chosen to speak at graduation, Mr. White was honored. “I was beaming,” he said. “It is such an honor to be asked, and I truly appreciate it.”

Mr. White, the Social Studies Resource Teacher, teaches Honors and AP U.S. History and is well-known for keeping his class interesting and engaging. His penchant for using humor and creative presentation are part of what has endeared him to students, particularly this year’s senior class.

Senior Irre Hussein believes that “Mr. White is a good teacher who inspires his students and who does well to maintain the integrity of the classroom.” He also notes that “Mr. White is a good speaker, so he should be able to fill the role well.”

Fellow senior Eric Newman agrees with Hussein’s opinion of Mr. White, adding, “Mr. White makes every class period interesting, regardless of the lesson’s topic. I’m very excited to have Mr. White as our graduation speaker.”

As for what he finds special about the class of 2014, Mr. White responds, “[The Class of] 2014 has had to deal with a lot of transition – new school, new principal; as a result, I think they are one of the more easygoing classes. It makes them a pleasure to teach, sometimes.”

Regarding his speech’s focus, Mr. White says, “I’m still thinking about that. I know the attention span of the seniors is pretty limited, so I think my main theme will center around this quote from FDR: ‘Be sincere, be brief, be seated.’”

As for his emotional state heading into his first address to a graduating class, Mr. White says that he is both nervous and excited. “I guess we’ll see how it goes on the 29th,” he adds with a smile.