Image of Patrick Frost, language arts student-teacher at South Salem High School. Photo taken by Audrey Willmschen
Patrick Frost: Origins and Future
Patrick Frost grew up in Redmond, Oregon until he was 21 and decided to move to Salem, Oregon to attend Corban University. Before taking a job in the education field, Frost was a youth pastor for seven 7 years. He then had his educational position at South Salem High School, starting in 2019. At the moment, Frost is a language arts student-teacher, but soon will be transitioning back to an instructional assistant position.
“I like the vibe of the classrooms and I like to discuss things. I also talk a lot and I like getting to look at deeper meanings behind what is initially presented. I just love debate and discussion. And English is the classroom where I feel like I could talk to the most students.”
– Frost said.
Frost decided he wanted to work at a high school because he likes the students and likes to guide and teach them.
“I really like highschoolers, I also think they are hilarious and I also like influencing and teaching people,” Frost said.
Other than wanting to be a teacher, Frost also likes to coach and wanted to coach baseball. Through coaching baseball he was able to connect to students.
“I think that the energy of schools is super fun and getting to go to the sports and contributing to making it a good time for the students, whether that’s through the scoreboard or the PA announcing or coaching I can do what I love,” Frost said.
Before Frost was a teacher, he worked his first job at KFC, but quit one day later. During two of his high school years, he worked at the grocery store Albertsons as a courtesy.
“I mostly just bagged groceries and helped people take their bags to their cars. And then at the time the can machines weren’t at bottle drop instead they were at stores so I got pigeonholed into taking care of the cans which was awful,” Frost said.
Family Life is an Important Life
Someone who inspires Frost is his wife because she is organized, patient and a great listener.
“She inspires me to be all those things that maybe don’t naturally come to but when I’m around her I do it more often than I would on my own,” Frost said.
Frost and his wife have traveled to Ethiopia twice to go to court and adopt their son Lincoln, who at the time was 18 months, but is now nine years old.
“Not only did we adopt my son, which was a huge moment, but it was different than what you think in your head or maybe how it is presented. It was beautiful and awesome. And the people were cool and the food was good and it was a great experience, so that’s definitely my favorite place I’ve been to,” Frost said.
