Whether inside the classroom or outside in the parking lot, history teacher Kraig Bauer has been using his position to build unique connections with students for 23 years.
After two decades of teaching in the history hallway, Bauer has become a well-known name at school, but that was not where he expected to be early in his life. After moving to Gaithersburg in 1977 and going through most of his grade school career locally, Bauer attended college for just a year before dropping out due to poor grades. Entering the workforce, Bauer was uncertain of where to go next, which ended up with him enlisting in the U.S. Army. “I had always been interested in the army and after my first little stint in college and waiting tables a little bit, I thought I needed more direction,” Bauer said.
It was the hottest time of the year in Fort Benning, one of the hottest parts of the country, when Bauer went through basic training, eventually becoming an infantryman in the army. In the next years, he traveled to different parts of Africa, the Middle East and Europe through his position, gaining special clearance, becoming more disciplined and learning a ton. “Joining the army was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Bauer said.
After finishing his service, Bauer headed back to the corporate world, working as a manager for a parking system, a job that he was good at. “The problem was I hated it,” Bauer said, “and I’d always wanted to be a teacher.”
Seeing the opportunity and with his love for history driving him, Bauer returned to college, attending Frostburg University while working in Gaithersburg on the weekends. Following three years of school he graduated with a teaching degree and began his journey here, which finally stuck.
Through all of his classes, Bauer’s favorite part of being a teacher is being able to shock students with information and grow their critical thinking skills through their work. Today, Bauer teaches three different history courses, his favorite being World Military History as he gets to “go over a bunch of stuff you don’t normally get to go over,” such as “military weapons, tactics and battles,” Bauer said.
Since the pandemic, the culture around “grade grabbing” has changed, but he refuses to give out the A as “that’s just not the way life should is, nor should it be,” Bauer said.
He often spends more of his time grading to ensure students become proficient at assignments that aren’t necessarily required, but that develop “skills [students] are going to need,” which Bauer said multiple former students have highlighted as helpful as they advance their education.
Around the school, Bauer is a liked and well-respected teacher. AP U.S. History student and sophomore Lev Gorban said Bauer keeps him engaged in class by “making sure” he stays focused. In addition, “Mr. Bauer has inspired my passion for history by making each lesson engaging and fun” and his “captivating” lessons have “fostered a deep sense of curiosity,” AP U.S. History student and sophomore Max Lee said.
Outside of instruction, Bauer enjoys the way he gets to see students through being the sponsor of the Barbecue Club. For the past 22 years he has been guiding the club; teaching the students to grill properly, managing club finances and organizing the tailgates, along with the club leaders. Barbecue Club is one of the most popular, and Bauer said he enjoys being able “to see the kids in a different way rather than an academic, where they’re enjoying [themselves].”
Since becoming a teacher multiple realities have come into place, most notably meeting and working a few doors down from his wife. After meeting social studies teacher Jennifer Bauer and starting a relationship through the school, the convenience of being so close has “made many things easier,” Bauer said. Being a few steps away all day has made it easier to “understand what the other one needs,” and has lessened the stress of “decisions that have to be made quickly.”
The influence that guided Bauer to becoming what he is today could not be confined to one role model, but rather “an array of people,” Bauer said. He recognized his mother as working hard to provide for the family when he was growing up, and his father as giving him a ton of good advice later in his life. Additionally, he credits a former neighbor of his and his drill sergeant in the army as guiding him to be honest, hard-working and a good person.
Working with as many students as he has, Bauer has experienced just about it all. As far as tips for succeeding in his class, and in school in general, he advises to stick to the simple things. “Stay up on your work. If you have a question, you’re not understanding class, ask the question. See your teacher later- don’t be afraid to ask your teachers, just be careful of your tone,” Bauer said.
