HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Teacher Ian Wald is known for his love and humility on the Nature Coast Technical High School campus.

He is beloved by his students. So much so, in fact, they’ve nominated him for the school-wide “Positive Behavior Support” award.

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Wald, who teaches Digital Cinema Production, has a passion for making sure his kids are college and career ready.

"Mr. Wald, whenever I see him, I get so excited because I know it's going to be a good day,” said incoming Nature Coast senior Ashley Bowerfind. “I always had him either at the end of the period, or towards the end of the day, and I feel so relieved when I enter his class because it's a warm environment.

“He's so sweet with all of his students, and he's so kind, and he teaches us about filmmaking and being a better human."

Wald has spent 15 years at the school training the next generation of filmmakers.

His students have earned prestigious awards at film festivals all over the country. And hundreds of students now have industry certifications, including for adobe premiere pro video editing software.

"I have a passion for filmmaking,” Wald said. “I have a passion for leadership. This combines the two, but truly there's not once I come to work where it feels like work. I come to school and I get to be a filmmaker with other young adults being filmmakers and we just get to create together. So, it's not a job…and it's exciting."

He's not the only one feeling happy.

A room full of enthusiastic students showed up this summer for Wald’s “Youth Film Camp.”

"My students, they love it,” he said of his high school students being counselors at the camp. “They love the opportunity to work with younger students and pass on information.

"Fifteen counselors working really hard in small groups with these 50 campers, so it's been an incredible experience for them, and for myself."

And while Wald’s passion for film and filmmaking is infectious, it’s the student engagement and relationships that matter the most.

“Care to hear who they really are. Listen to them,” Wald said of working with his students. “Don't be so quick to talk and tell them who they should be.

“They all have a different story. They all have love in their hearts, so you just got to find them on their grounds."