Sean Stanek
Sean Stanek is an 8th grade Social Studies teacher in Wilmington, NC. With 11 years of teaching experience, he advises the Holly Shelter Middle Surfrider Foundation Student Club, and runs a local non-profit organization called Share the Stoke. Share the Stoke connects downtown Wilmington youth to southeastern NC’s robust surfing community (follow their work on Instagram @sharethestoke.nc). Sean's goal as an educator has always been to be the teacher that he wished he had when he was in middle school; firm, understanding and fun-loving, but with high expectations. Sean believes that it is incredibly important to have high expectations for his students and always push them to do their best work. Coupled with building positive relationships with his students, Sean encourages them to remain dedicated, persevere in the face of adversity, become life-long learners, and rise to the occasion. Maintaining this growth mindset since his first-year teaching, his students always experience growth. They learn to think like historians, develop leadership skills, and become more well-rounded.