Teacher: ELA
By: Morgan Blechschmid and Chloe Rojak
November 11, 2021
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. Ken Rademaker! Mr. Rademaker is an ELA teacher here at BHS. This year marks number 22 for him at BHS, too. He is known by many of his students for his ability to balance out the role of being the fun and easy-going teacher as well as the strict and focused teacher. One thing is for certain, though: He is really funny!
Q: How many years were you in the television news industry, and what were your responsibilities?
A: “I worked in TV news for 14 years, and I did a lot of things, but being a producer is something I did most significantly.”
Q: What is your favorite part about being an English teacher for upper-level students?
A: “I think my favorite part is seeing when students really get something, especially when it’s kind of a difficult concept or something they haven’t done before. It’s rewarding when they can figure out how to evaluate evidence and breeze through more difficult concepts. It’s great to see them kind of master the difficult stuff and just do it on their own.”
Q: What is your favorite content to teach and why?
A: “I like teaching literature from the 1950s to the present time because a lot of it is really weird, and I like weird stuff like that. It’s funny because the kids think it’s weird, too, and I just tell them, ‘Yes, it’s supposed to be weird!'”
Q: What are some of the most interesting memories from all of your travels?
A: “One of the most interesting memories from one of my travels was getting tear-gassed at the riot in Paris. I had absolutely nothing to do with the riot. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time; it was not fun but very interesting! Another interesting memory was seeing the running of the bulls in Spain.”
Q: With all of the places that you have traveled to, what are your top three? What is the ultimate bucket-list location for you?
A: “My favorite is Ireland, then after that Paris, and then London. Saigon, Vietnam, is a place I really want to visit. I want to go there because they have great architecture and great food.”
Q: What are some of your favorite sports teams to watch?
A: “I strictly have four teams I watch and those are the Browns, the Indians, the Cavaliers, and Ohio State.”
Q: Describe yourself in three words.
A: “Ready for adventure!”
Mr. Rademaker, you are the best!
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 