It was a scorching hot August afternoon when I arrived at JW Long Elementary school to interview fifth grade reading and writing teacher, Mr. Perish Hambric. As I waited outside his classroom he was preparing his students to go to specials. Immediately I was impressed with his classroom management style. “Ladies line up first,” he said followed by “and level zero in the hallway please,” which is code for no talking in the hallways. Another thing that caught my attention? His classroom decorations. When students walk into Mr. Hambric’s room they enter on a red carpet with red velvet ropes as though they were entering a movie premier. A tell-tale sign that students are the stars in his classroom.
To my surprise, Hambric shared that teaching was actually his second career. Prior to transitioning to the field of education, he spent fifteen years working at Terrell State Hospital. Hambric started out as the ISS teacher at JW Long before becoming a hall monitor at Furlough Middle School. It was during this time that he went back to school to get his teaching degree.
Those first few years in the school environment made Mr. Hambric realize that teaching - and specifically at the elementary level - was his calling. “I chose elementary because this is the time you can mold a child and fifth grade specifically because you can reach them before they become teenagers,” he shared.
While Hambric’s main focus is on writing and reading comprehension skills for his students, he also teaches them soft skills. He shared that his mantra is ladies first. “Ladies go first in the line, the boys get their chairs, they hold the door for them,” he said. I told him that I got the sense that he is a yes sir, no sir, yes ma’am, no ma’am kind of teacher. To which he replied, “Yes ma’am.”
Hambric is one of only three male teachers on the JW Long campus and is the only black male elementary teacher - a common finding at elementary schools across the nation.
“More men are needed in education and specifically at the elementary level," he shared. “Young boys need to see themselves in this role. I can show them that teaching and shaping young minds is an honorable profession.”
It was at this point during the interview that Mr. Hambric had to stop and compose himself as tears began to form in his eyes. And yes, I cried right along with him. This no-nonsense, straightforward teacher who believes in tough love is actually a gentle giant.
Now in his third year as a fifth grade teacher Hambric has become one of the most highly requested teachers by JW Long parents. “Every year I have parents come to me and tell me that they hoped their child would get me as their teacher. It humbles me.”
When I spoke to his principal, Malori Wooten, she had nothing but high praise for Mr. Hambric. “Mr. Hambric isn’t just a teacher; he’s a mentor, a friend, and a guiding light. His genuine care for his students, combined with his exceptional ability to connect with them on a personal level, makes him a true asset to our campus. He’s not only shaping young minds but he’s also shaping lives.”
As we wrapped up the interview, I asked Mr. Hambric if he and his family had any big plans for the weekend. With excitement in his eyes, he shared that he and his wife Tijuana, fifteen year old daughter Jordin and seven year old daughter Madison were looking forward to watching his son, Marquel, play in his first collegiate level football game. Marquel, a Terrell High School Class of 2024 graduate, currently plays cornerback for Central Arkansas. “My youngest daughter is so excited,” he said. “She asked if we could start packing our suitcases four days ago.”
On my way out, I expressed to Mr. Hambric what an honor it was to meet him and to have the opportunity to share his story. To which he replied, “When you find something that you love to do, you will never work a day in your life. I’ve made the main thing the main thing. It is about the kids. I have found my place and this is God’s stamp on my life.”
Yes, indeed, Mr. Hambric. Yes, indeed.