Northwest ISD Navigator Magazine Spring 2017-18 | Page 20

A L U M N I
A N S W E R S
Educators Ben Balduc,
Chase Darter and
David McRitchie
For educators across the country, teaching jobs often
mean going to a school you’ve never visited and
ingraining yourself in its culture. For three Byron Nelson
High School teachers, their classrooms are familiar
territory.
Ben Balduc, Chase Darter and David McRitchie all
attended Byron Nelson and now teach at the school. All
three were among the school’s first alumni: The school
graduated its first class in 2012, which included Mr.
Balduc and Mr. McRitchie, and Mr. Darter graduated the
following year. Mr. Balduc now teaches social studies and
coaches football and track, Mr. McRitchie teaches AP
20
government and economics, and Mr. Darter teaches algebra.
All three say coming back to teach at their alma mater
provides an interesting experience and emphasized teaching
is rewarding – perhaps even more so when they teach at the
same school they attended.
What made you want to become an educator?
Mr. Balduc: I wasn’t sure at first what I wanted to be when
I got into college. Eventually through a summer job where
I coached – at Byron Nelson of all places – I realized that I
enjoyed working with kids, specifically at the high school