Walking through the familiar halls of Y.A.L.E. School Cherry Hill, Ben Rubin feels a rush of memories and a renewed sense of purpose. The same classrooms where he once learned and grew are now spaces where he guides students as a teaching assistant and substitute teacher, helping them build confidence, develop new skills, and work toward success. For Ben, this journey is more than a career – it’s a full-circle moment.
A 2015 Y.A.L.E. graduate, Ben spent several years after high school, attending the New York Institute of Technology, where he graduated in 2019 with a degree in Communications Arts. Despite this path, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his true calling lay in the classroom. Having discovered his love for teaching at an early age, he returned to Y.A.L.E. in 2021 as a teaching assistant. He knew that working with children wasn’t just a job, but a way to make a meaningful difference and share the encouragement and support he had once received himself.
Drawing on his own experience as a Y.A.L.E. student and as an individual on the autism spectrum, he offers a perspective few educators possess. He understands the challenges his students face and the determination it takes to overcome them. His lived experience allows him to teach with empathy and authenticity, and in turn helps students feel understood and supported.
“I’ve come full circle at Y.A.L.E. School,” says Ben Rubin. “From student to teacher, I’ve been able to follow my path within a community that has supported me every step of the way.”
In 2025, Ben stepped into a temporary middle school substitute teaching position, expanding his responsibilities and strengthening his professional experience. As a substitute, he adapted to taking lead in the classroom, navigating new routines and expectations, while supporting students academically and behaviorally.
He often thinks back to the support he received at Y.A.L.E., from staff like Visual Arts Teacher Jason Eckert and Physical Education Teaching Assistant Jackie Fasolka. Their support helped him build confidence, discover his strengths, and believe in himself – lessons he now passes along to his students each day.
Ben also encourages his students to not let their disability hold them back from pursuing their dreams. He doesn’t just offer this advice; he is a living example of it. By returning to Y.A.L.E., Ben shows his students what is possible. “Being different does not make you less,” Ben says, “With dedication and heart, anyone can achieve their goals.”
Substitute teaching even sparked a new ambition in Ben: to pursue his teaching degree. He is proud to fulfill that promise, as he plans to pursue college courses in 2026. He looks forward to a future in his own classroom teaching middle school students, helping to guide and support them as they take the next step in their educational journey.
Ben never imagined he would return to Y.A.L.E. as a staff member, but he’s grateful he took the chance. As he puts it, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and I’m glad I took the shot to return to Y.A.L.E. and pursue teaching. It was a great decision.”
From student to mentor, Ben Rubin’s journey is a testament to the power of community and resilience, showing that sometimes the path you once walked can lead you to where you’re meant to be.