History Teacher Bishop Walker recently received a prestigious honor from his hometown for his work in education and activism. In September, he traveled back to Shaker Heights, Ohio to accept his award and speak to students, families, the mayor, and other members of the community. Keep reading to learn more about this award and Bishop’s inspiration for becoming a teacher.
Exemplary teachers are synonymous with heroes. They can swoop into a student’s life when they least expect it, rescuing them from the many trials and tribulations of adolescence. They are influential during a time of intense transformation and while the lessons they teach in the classroom are important, it is the lessons that students carry with them after they graduate that matter the most. At Field, we are incredibly fortunate to have so many educators who guide our students in this way—including History Teacher Bishop Walker. It is not unusual to see students beaming with joy after an interaction with Bishop. His natural and easygoing rapport with Field students is extraordinary, but his impact on their lives runs much deeper. His ability to connect with them to inspire engagement and a love of learning is unmatched and is what recently earned him a prestigious honor from his hometown.
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Paying Homage to Shaker Heights
In September, Bishop traveled to Shaker Heights, Ohio, a small town about 10 miles outside of Cleveland, where he was inducted into the Shaker Heights High School Hall of Fame for his work in education and activism—an honor that he said was humbling and felt like a full circle moment. “I got to speak to students at Shaker Heights High School to bring the message of hope and that no matter where you come from you can be successful, no matter what your story looks like,” Bishop said.
As Bishop will tell you, his story is a little bit of everything. He grew up with his brother, mother, and grandmother—his father left when he was a child. Bishop attended Shaker Heights Public Schools from Pre-K to 12th grade and he credits this community for giving him the confidence and the space to grow into his authentic self. Addressing members of the Shaker Heights community in September, including the mayor, he paid homage to one of his first loves; the community that has shaped him. “I was a kid with big dreams, and Shaker Heights was the ground where those dreams began to take root,” Bishop shared.
“Shaker Heights has always been more than just a place to me, it has been a launchpad. A place where boundaries are meant to be challenged, and where we are encouraged to reach beyond what seems possible."
Journey to Become an Educator
Bishop’s journey to become a teacher and an activist is rooted in his childhood experiences. He recalled passionate conversations with his grandmother about politics and a special history teacher who introduced him to a book that changed his life — a book he now teaches in his African American Studies class at Field, The Miseducation of the Negro. This book also ignited his passion for activism, the driving force behind much of his life’s work, which started during his undergraduate career at Johnson C. Smith University, in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I’ll never forget the murder of Trayvon Martin, it really impacted my life. I started a lot of student protests during that time period. I was in SGA (Student Government Association), and I partnered with the Charlotte community to lead and ensure voices were heard. I wanted to see the community around me change,” Bishop explained.
Finding Inspiration in Mentorship
Bishop’s efforts to boost voices in his community continued with an impactful experience at Charlotte-Mecklenburg High School, which he said pointed him down a path to become a teacher. He had the opportunity to mentor students who played on the football team, many of whom did not have access to professional clothing; suits, ties, etc. Bishop started his own foundation, Bishop Tie The Knot Foundation to help these students gain access to these critical resources. “Just to see the looks on their faces, it really impacted my life, and since then I just knew I wanted to connect and teach young people,” Bishop explained.
Bishop earned his Master’s at Howard University and taught in D.C. before coming to Field. He teaches middle school and upper school students, while also coaching and assistant coaching our Boys Varsity Soccer team, Boys Middle School Basketball team, and Boys Varsity Tennis team. He said working at Field has been a transformative experience in his own professional journey.
“Field has changed my life. Just the opportunity to teach history, world religion, African American Studies, U.S. History—it has just been amazing. The students are life-changing. I think this has been a defining moment in my educational experience."
There is no question that Bishop’s success as an educator is self-driven but he credits his many accomplishments to the wonderful mentors in his life. “I wasn’t the perfect kid, but I knew something was there. It just took my mom and really good mentors and people to show me that despite what I have been through in my life, I could be successful,” Bishop said. He feels fortunate to have grown up with two strong women by his side, but the relationships he formed with the men in his community motivate him to pay it forward in terms of mentorship. He believes it is important for students to have someone they can look up to and someone they can relate to—and sometimes, that is all it takes to make them feel seen.
In his September address to his Shaker Heights community, a love letter of sorts, Bishop shared that throughout his life he has carried his hometown in his heart and will continue to do so.
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