PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The latest A+ Teacher is giving his students confidence on stage and off campus.

Longleaf Elementary Principal, Jennifer McCormack says Ryan Bintz brings out the shining star in all of his students.

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"Really what makes Mr Bintz an amazing person and a teacher, his ability to make everybody shine, he takes even the shyest of children and is able to bring out their inner actor or actress and they feel confident,” said McCormack.

Step inside Mr. Bintz theater class and things are sure to get dramatic, that's the whole idea. Bintz, a performer himself fell in love with the arts as a teenager.

"I saw this marching band out on the field and I said to my mom, I want to be in that because it was something I never saw before," said Bintz.

The next four years, he was inspired by his band director, who introduced him to playing the tuba.

"I got into acting, I got into chorus, I got into all kinds of stuff and just watching her for those four years inspired me and made me want to be like her,” said Bintz.
A teacher almost twenty years, the Pasco County Teacher of the Year is now the one inspiring students.

"I like that he pushes us out of our comfort zones to do better," said student, Kaitlyn Hunt-Wilson.

"It’s just building confidence in them," said Bintz. "I have a little #believe in yourself, so that’s my little saying that I want to have them believe in themselves, if they’re feeling just a little bit shy just to break out of that and I think that will help them as they move on.”

Students speak highly of Bintz.

"He’s pretty inspirational,” said 5th grader, Christian Penz.

With each exercise, with each assignment, these students gain the confidence to take the stage on campus and star in their own production outside of class.

"He’s very positive and he’s very funny,” said 5th grader, Chau Nguyen.

"I feel confident,” said Aureya Hammond.

"My favorite musical is Hamilton, said Bintz. "So building a legacy and that’s kind of what I want to do in these kids is just try to build a legacy, they’ll always remember me."