To LCM students, he is known as Mr. Platt – the AP English IV and British Literature teacher. However, those who truly know Michael Platt are aware that for the 31 years before becoming an educator, he worked in the newspaper business.

Platt graduated from French High School in Beaumont in 1973. After moving to the northeast he graduated from Trenton State New Jersey, where he earned his BA in English Education. He began his newspaper career reviewing books and “making up” the newspaper. Platt eventually did many jobs in newspaper– including advertising, marketing  and project management.

Then, Platt made a change. He left the newspaper business to pursue teaching, an area in which he was already familiar. He was certified to teach in Pennsylvania and New Jersey 30 years prior to moving back to Texas, but he had to retake the 10-hour certification test in order to be allowed to teach in his home state.

“You have to jump through lots of hoops,” Platt said about the process of being certified to teach in a new state.

According to Platt, the transition from working for a newspaper to teaching high school was an adjustment but there are also many similarities between the two jobs – such as being able to get stories and/or grades turned in on time. “As you know, in newspaper, you can never miss a deadline,” Platt said. “It just doesn’t happen.”

During his seven years at LCM, Platt has impacted many of his students in a positive way, including senior Cameron Parker.

“It’s nice having Platt as a teacher,” Parker said. “He walks us through the books and explains stuff that we don’t understand. He gives us insight to what’s going on whenever we don’t know.”

Out of his seven years of working at LCM, Platt said he finds it hard to pick his all-time favorite memory of working with seniors.

“Every week, there is some sort of sweet moment that adds to the teaching experience,” he said.