Part of an ongoing series featuring the teachers nominated for Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce’s Teacher of the Year honors.

Using art, writing and music, Ryan Copeland is working to open his student’s eyes to the world around them.

Whether that is having them write a passage about cloud forests, draw a map of the area they live or listen to a song detailing the singer’s personal journey, Copeland’s goal is to make the history he is teaching his students come to life for them.

“We talked about the 1927 flood at one point and then we listened to a blues song about the hardships people went through during that time,” Copeland said. “You can tell from somebody that was there what it feels like more than me just saying there was a flood in 1927. You can get a personal understanding of the material.”

Copeland is an eighth grade social studies teacher at Warren Central Junior High and is his school’s nominee for the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Copeland majored in history at Southern Miss and is in his fifth year working at WCJH. Working as a history teacher, Copeland said he hopes to help his students be more well-rounded by giving them the tools to think for themselves and make their own decisions.

“Sometimes in current events, people try to influence our opinions all the time,” Copeland said. “I think it is important for people to be able to make up their own minds. I try to present information in a neutral way, but show them the resources they need to make their own decision.”

By using art such as photography and music, Copeland said he is working to not just teach the subject matter to his students, but also help them, “be culturally away. It is important to be aware and realize how Mississippi has impacted the rest of the country. Sometimes when it is just words on a page, it may not connect with everybody, but you can get something drawn, write something down yourself or hear a musician express something in a certain way.”

He also works with the members of his team to make the topics they are covering come alive for students. During a recent section, the science teacher taught about clouds, in Copeland’s history class they learned about the geography of cloud forests and the math and English teachers used their classes to delve deeper into the subjects.

Being named teacher of the year for his school is a reflection of the impact the entire team is having, not just the success he is individually having, Copeland said.

“I was honored by it, but I know that everything I can get done there, I can get done because of the team I work with,” Copeland said. “I am glad that people thought I was worthy to vote for, but everything we do we do as a team so I know that is representative of what our team is doing.”

The Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce will choose one elementary and one secondary teacher of the year at the chamber luncheon Feb. 21. The winner of each award will receive $1,000 from Ameristar Casino and the runner-up for each award will receive $500 from Mutual Credit Union.

“It is nice when somebody recognizes the hard work you do. I would be honored by that,” Copeland said of his reaction if he won. “I am going to keep working hard either way.”