As a new school year starts, students are greeted by a lot of familiar teachers as well as a few new teachers. One such person is student teacher Ben Fraley, who is here to teach in the theatre department. But with a new teacher, many students find themselves wondering about who this teacher is or where he came from.

“I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. I graduated from Southport High School and then graduated from Indiana University,” Fraley said. “I liked them both. Indiana University is a great college that makes sure you know that you have a lot of opportunities and you can really find yourself there.”

Fraley likes to travel around America.

“I actually haven’t really been out of the country,” he said. “I’ve been on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and that’s really the farthest I’ve gone. Other than that I’ve been to states such as California, New York, Nevada and Florida.”

Besides teaching, Fraley is an aspiring actor.

“When I was in sixth grade I realized I had a very high passion for acting and so I was in all the shows throughout high school and college,” Fraley said. “Later in life, I did a few independent productions. Then I began directing and writing to which I have at this point directed two shows, wrote two musicals and one play.”

Fraley knows what he looks for in people.

“I’d have to say respect and trust are the biggest qualities I look for in people,” he said. “Especially in the performing arts. I need to know that if I respect you, you respect me back. I feel when there’s mutual respect and mutual trust that we can get a lot more accomplished.”

Fraley is exactly where he wants to be at this point in his life.

“I actually requested to teach at Ben Davis,” he said. “I had known that they had a great theatre department and overall was a great school. I had also heard that Ben Davis had top notch staff so I figured if I got to choose what school I taught at then I would definitely choose Ben Davis and I did.”

After one week, Fraley likes what he sees.

“I’ve really enjoyed my first few days here. I’ve been kind of just watching and observing the students and the staff and I really enjoy the feel of the environment,” Fraley said. “I feel the students really want to learn, especially in the performing arts departments. I’ve also gotten off to a good start with the staff.”

Another thing Fraley tells about himself is his personal hobbies.

“I have a passion for writing and directing shows as well as acting in them. I love movies, I love to analyze them,” he said. “My favorite movie would have to be a toss-up between Princess Bride and Good Will Hunting. My favorite actor would also be between Will Smith and Steve Carell. And my favorite directors would, like the other two, be a tie up between Quinton Tarantino because I really like his style, and older Steven Spielberg films such as Jurassic Park and E.T.”