Baldwin High School staff and students have welcomed new history teacher Donald Blanchat with open arms.

A Baldwin City resident for ten years, Blanchat “likes that people have great pride in the city, the schools and each other.”

Not everyone would like to deal with the high school students, but Blanchat enjoys it.

“I chose secondary education (7th-12th) because I felt like my personality would mesh better with older students,” Blanchat said.

Previously, Blanchat attended and graduated from Quivira Heights High School in Bushton, KS. He then received his “undergrad at Panhandle State University and masters degree from Christian Brothers University.”

The best part of Blanchat’s day is “the daily interactions with the students,” he said. “I never know what may or may not happen.”

Social studies was very interesting to Blanchat, which made him want to teach it.

“I had very good social studies teachers in high school and college and I was also interested in the content,” he said.

He is not sure what made him decide to teach, though.

“Since I was in high school I knew that’s the career I wanted,” he said.

Students feel that Blanchat is an excellent addition to the school.

“He’s good. He explains everything about the subject,” freshman Celeste Wallis said.