The combination of Apex, fifth graders and zombies seems unlikely at first glance. But, when you get to know life-long Apex resident and local schoolteacher Chris Gilbert, you come to understand that when it comes to Apex, there’s no place like home, even when it’s being overrun by zombies.
Gilbert is a third generation Apex resident who grew up on West Chatham Street in the house his maternal grandfather built in the early 1960s. Though his parents eventually divorced, they passed that house back and forth a few times with Gilbert’s mom being the current owner.
Gilbert, the oldest of two boys, made his way through the Apex school system attending AV Baucom Elementary School (in fact, living so close he could walk to school) and then “graduating” to Apex Middle School before finishing up at the original Apex High School on Laura Duncan Road. During his senior year, Gilbert participated in PEPI (Physical Education Pupil Instructor), a program where seniors work closely with elementary school students, K – 5, in areas of physical education, athletics, fitness, coordination, etc.
Gilbert pointed to this experience as the one most influential in his pursuing a career in teaching. And, while Gilbert noted that sports was and still is his first love, when it came time to consider a career path, he opted for elementary education.
“The only thing that would steer me away from teaching would be coaching basketball,” Gilbert shared.
He attended UNC-Wilmington from 2004 to 2008 and graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education. Gilbert proudly noted that he was the first of his family, on either side (i.e., the Gilberts and the Pearsons), to graduate from college.
However, the excitement of graduation was balanced by the recession that greeted Gilbert as he jumped into the job market during the spring of 2008. Hiring freezes and a less-than robust economy made for a challenging job search. It was going to take some time. Fast-forward some 18 months later and, with perseverance and a little help from the myriad connections he cultivated in Apex, Gilbert was hired by his alma mater, albeit his elementary alma mater, AV Baucom. He went from student to teacher. This suited Chris Gilbert just fine.
Now a veteran of 12 years at Baucom, Gilbert has taught the fifth grade for the vast majority of his time there, save for one year spent teaching fourth graders. Today, he teaches ELA (English language arts) and social studies to fifth graders. Gilbert also tutors several children outside of his full-time teaching job.
So, how does Chris Gilbert, the Apex resident and school teacher, become Chris GIlbert the author? Gilbert said he always loved writing. He noted how he always excelled on essay questions on tests.
“Writing never bothered me; it came naturally and was easy,” Gilbert said.
Another thing that came easy was Gilbert’s love for The Walking Dead. This supernatural AMC television show premiered on Halloween, 2010. Gilbert was hooked from day one.
The stage was set.
The confluence of Apex, fifth graders and zombies was only a pandemic away. Gilbert said he’d never forget the moment he was inspired to write Once Bitten. It was March 2020 and Covid-19 was just starting to wreak havoc. Live teaching was suspended. They were posting assignments online and holding the occasional Google Meet session. The pause on teaching provided ample down time. But, what to do?
“I was sitting in my car in Raleigh listening to the radio and the DJ started talking about things you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time, including writing a book,” Gilbert noted.
So, write a book he did. From March 2020 to May 2020, Gilbert wrote the first draft of the manuscript for Once Bitten. The title has significance to events of the story (but no spoilers here). The story is loosely based on Gilbert’s childhood with connections made to events, people and locations in and around Apex. Underlying themes of perseverance and independence shine through in this story about a boy, Tucker Graham, who never gives up.
Gilbert pointed out that the book’s content is age appropriate. It is 100% adventure and is not violent or scary like other zombie-centric TV shows or movies of the genre. In Once Bitten, the zombies are actually called rotters.
The fleshing (pun intended) out of the story and the subsequent enhancements and fine-tuning was hardly a one-man show. Enter co-author Nolan Heath. Heath is the brother of a good friend of Gilbert’s and owns an editorial/publishing company in Wilmington where they all went to school.
“Nolan Heath was an integral part of the book who took it to the next level by sprucing it up with more detail. He really elevated the plot,” Gilbert shared.
Heath was involved in a host of other book-related areas including brainstorming on the title and designing the cover art which features several familiar Apex locations. All of their collaborative efforts happened virtually.
With the requisite social media outlets flooded, the book went live in September 2020 and is sold exclusively through Amazon. Though we are almost two years removed from the first day on the market, Gilbert noted that the book continues to do well.
Gilbert also noted that adults love the book but it’s geared to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. He relayed that to better align himself with his students, Gilbert investigated and read many of the chapter books his students liked to read, like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games series, etc. This allowed him to better understand what students of this age group were interested in, what entertained them and what piqued their interests. It also allowed him to cultivate some common interest with his students. So, while Once Bitten is not part of any required reading list for fifth graders, these students can choose to read it under the independent-reader umbrella.
“Once Bitten is sort of a fun, secondary line of teaching. I’ll read excerpts to the class and we’ll discuss. How often do kids get to read about their hometown?” Gilbert asked.
Once Bitten ends with plenty of loose ends which of course leads to speculation about a sequel. Toward that end, Gilbert said he’s drafted about 10 or 11 chapters but was quick to note they are all in early stages of development.
So, while he’s in the early stages of a new book, his personal life has entered a new chapter. Gilbert shared that he was getting married in June and noted that he and his wife will be moving into a house in the Friendship area of Apex.
“I’m blessed to be in Apex and working at a school I love,” Gilbert closed.
For Chris Gilbert, teaching (and fighting zombies) in the town he loves is simply elementary.
