“Mr. Brooklyn”
By: Morgan Blechschmid and Chloe Rojak
October 7, 2021
Mr. Jim Verba is one of our well-known staff members here at Brooklyn High School. Verba has had a long-tenured and successful, 34-year stint here at BHS. He has held multiple roles within the district as a Science and Math Teacher, Girls Basketball Coach, Junior Varsity Baseball Coach, and Athletic Director. Everyone knows Verba; his humor, enthusiasm, and personality are contagious. Simply, he makes BHS a better place.
Q: With all of your years of experience, what advice would you give to a new teacher?
A: “Be flexible! You have to be able to adapt. More importantly, try to get to know your students and invest in them. Make them know that you care about them. Lastly, make sure you treat everyone like you would want to be treated. It takes a ton of people to run a school effectively. Make sure you let everyone know you appreciate them.”
Q: What do you enjoy more, being in the classroom or being the athletic director? Why?
A: “I enjoy being in the classroom more because I get to have more interactions with the students at Brooklyn High School on a more regular basis. I’m still adjusting, but with the help of the administration and my fellow teachers and friends, the change has gone far smoother than I anticipated. I miss the coaches and watching our athletes compete, but I can still attend games on my own time, when it’s convenient to me. I definitely appreciate the extra time I now have to do other things like work on my “HONEY DO” list that I have but never got time to do because I was so busy being the Athletic Director.”
Q: How many years of educational experience do you have and how many more until you decide to retire?
A: “I started in 1987 teaching at Garfield Heights, and then after one year, I left to come to Brooklyn. After this year is over, I will have 35 years of educational experience. I hope to go 2-3 more years if possible. I enjoy my job and teaching kids makes me feel young and energizes me. Plus, I would miss all of my teaching colleagues and friends.”
Q: What makes Brooklyn a special place?
A: “Small town where everyone seems to know each other. I moved to Brooklyn when I was sixteen and have been a part of the community ever since. I love it here.”
Q: What are your favorite hobbies when you’re not at school?
A: “I like to work on jigsaw puzzles (no less than 1000 pieces). I enjoy traveling and spending time with my wife. I also really enjoy watching movies, especially foreign ones.”
Q: If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
A: “I would say I would like to meet Jesus Christ or Muhammed. I am intrigued by world religions and would have loved to have met them and heard them preach. I would also have loved meeting William Shakespeare. I’m a big fan and love the way he writes!”
Q: What is your favorite season of the year and why?
A: “I love Summer because I am on vacation, but I don’t really like the heat. I prefer Fall if I had to choose. Love the color changes and cooler temperatures.”
Q: If you could go back to one point in your life, what would it be and why?
A: “Very tough question…don’t like to look back. I’ve made some mistakes in my life as we all do, and I’m sure I would have liked to have gone back and fixed one of those ‘mistakes’. Frank Sinatra’s famous song ‘My Way’ says it all.”
Thank you for your time and for the dedication that you put into Brooklyn High School. We know you bleed Blue and Gold, and we love you, Verbs!
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 