English teacher speaks at George Washington University

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Morgan Martin in Features

Morgan Martin

Chronicle Reporter

Mr. Carmicle…. Whenever a student at Hollywood High School hears that name, he or she knows exactly who you are referring to and the rigorous and meticulous class that he runs.

Students at Hollywood High nearly beg their counselors to get into his AP and Honors English classes because they know their reading, writing, and analyzing skills will improve remarkably throughout the year in his class. His teaching style has not gone unnoticed on a broader spectrum; after being nominated the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction scholar’s 2011 educator of the year, he spoke in front of 1,500 students and parents at the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) at George Washington University in Washington D.C. on Aug. 1.

James B. Carmicle worked in radio broadcasting on the East Coast for 14 years before he realized his destiny to teach and inspire youth. Carmicle said “in radio broadcasting and previous careers, he was always teaching.” After relocating to Los Angeles after he sold his telephone answering service, he asked himself “why don’t I just become a teacher?” He went to USC and has been teaching for 24 years ever since.

After receiving a letter in the mail and filling out the paperwork accordingly, Carmicle became an “educator of distinction” in the National Society of High School Scholars. Carmicle approved of the offer to join the NSHSS because it “reaches around the world and is about scholarships – true scholars – around the world and country.”

On a summer vacation to Atlanta with his brother, Carmicle decided to introduce himself to the people at the NSHSS headquarters. Carmicle quickly clicked with the executives in Atlanta and they went out to lunch after Carmicle’s introduction. About two months later, he received an email while in a meeting saying that he was awarded the inaugural “educator of the year.” “I must’ve said something at lunch that was inspiring. I must’ve said how I love teaching” Carmicle said modestly reflecting on why he was honored. As part of his award, Carmicle was flown to Atlanta in December of that year and awarded $5,000 at a ceremony, $4,000 more than the original $1,000 he was told he would receive. “They shocked me and I was so pleased to get that first inaugural award.”

This year on Aug. 1, Carmicle was invited to speak at George Washington University’s “National Scholar day”, the “biggest day of the year for them” said Carmicle. Carmicle gave a speech to 1,500 students and parents where he “challenged all of the high school students to keep doing what they’re doing and to be college and career ready.” Carmicle told the audience that there is nothing more special than to be connected to NSHSS.

Carmicle wants “to continue doing good in the classroom” and says “there’s no way that [he] will retire as long as he’s still here and still active.” When he does finally decide to retire, he will move back to New York, his “favorite city on the planet” and the place where he wants to finish his “final laps.” At this point, he says he still has the “energy, expertise, and enthusiasm” to inspire his students and plans on staying at the school to pass along his knowledge and years of experience to eager students in the future.

Carmicle has found his happiness in teaching and advises young people to do the same. He said “find what makes you happy, think, set that goal, then go for that goal” to students who are struggling to find what they want to do in life. To avoid regret he said “you don’t want a shoulda, woulda, coulda kind of life. You’ll be happy for the rest of your life if you find what makes you happy.” For Carmicle, “it was teaching” and his joy and passion for teaching has taken him across the country and gained him national attention. It goes to show that once you find your true meaning in life, you are capable of accomplishing anything.