Best teachers at Coatesville High School: Mr. Heydt, author of 6 historical documents, and Mr. Sheller, founder of Sarcasm as a Language Foundation. 

Mr. Heydt and me after graduation.

Mr. Sheller and Maddie, and me after graduation.

If I was asked to choose my top teachers from high school, these two names come to mind immediately.  The two most influential, encouraging, and passionate teachers I have ever had are my yearbook teacher, Mr. Heydt, and my calculus teacher, Mr. Sheller.  I had them both through my junior and senior years of high school, and during that time, I learned more from them than just how to edit a photo or take a derivative.  They taught me valuable life lessons and always made it clear that they were there for me if I needed advice beyond academics. 

First, let’s talk about Mr. Heydt.  Timid, little 11th grade me walked into his class expecting to be another one of the students that just “blend in” and make the basic contribution to the yearbook.  It turned out that yearbook was my all-time favorite class and the most rewarding experience I could have imagined.   

Mr. Heydt during spirit week…. he’d kill me if he knew I posted this anywhere.

Through the two years, I made my way to be an editor.  Of course, as an editor, I spent a lot of time in the computer lab and in yearbook meetings to finalize pages and submissions.  I talked with Mr. Heydt a lot and began to trust him as not only a teacher, but a mentor and someone to go to for help.  I remember a specific instance where I was concerned about another student in 11th grade and asked Mr. Heydt what to do and he assisted me in making sure everything was alright.  Since then, I knew he was going to make a huge impact on my high school experience.  

I learned a lot from Mr. Heydt, including how to write a proper email, how to diffuse a problematic situation, how to accommodate and cooperate professionally, and just how to make the best out of every situation.  I could joke around with him without anything being taken too literally; he was a “cool” teacher that still did an incredible job educating his students.  

Mr. Sheller, on the same token, also consistently made himself available for advice or any sort of help needed.  I took AP Calculus AB and BC with him and I have never had a better teacher.  He is not only so educated in his subject, but he is also so good at relaying it to his students so that we understand.  His reputation as a quality teacher was proven correct when he stayed after school for hours to help the students that were struggling with the material.  I stayed every week to work on assignments and improve in calculus.  Even now, in college, I have yet to find a better teacher; honestly, it is hard to sit in my current math class and not compare my professor to Mr. Sheller.   

A magnetic that I gave Mr. Sheller as a gag gift in 11th grade that is still currently on his board.

Mr Sheller also allowed my best friend, Maddie (who has a feature post on this blog), and I to come in his room to eat lunch if we needed to work on assignments or even just get out of the claustrophobic cafeteria.  He was always so kind for sharing his lunch period with us.  Oh, and to address the title… he is the most sarcastic person I have ever met in my life.

Not only was he my math teacher, he also ran Bible Club at my school.  Every Sunday, Mr. Sheller and a group of us students would meet at a church and have a Bible study.  This, obviously, isn’t something typical of a high school teacher, but it was truly an incredible way to connect with other Christians in the same age as me and grow in my spiritual life.  Mr. Sheller’s skills in teaching weren’t just in math, the man could teach the Bible better than my actual pastor!  

Overall, these teachers impacted my life in more ways than one.  They both served as mentors, outlets, and encouragements throughout my last two years of high school.  I will be eternally grateful for the tremendous impact they have had on my life in in my educational journey thus far.