Though a large number of the teachers at the school are fathers, one in particular gives off major dad-vibes. That teacher would have to be social studies finatic, Timothy Anderson. After working at the school for 10 years, when he’s not cracking a joke or chatting about sports, he is teaching about his passion, history. His personality mixed with his desire for strong engagement teaching creates the perfect father-feel to any of his classes. “He’s really nice but really random in a good way,” sophomore Josie Ament said.
Students are hard targets when it comes to making jokes. Teachers will often try multiple times throughout a class period, but fail due to tired and opposed humor. Anderson does not give up in his strive to make students laugh. Cracking multiple jokes a period, he wakes up tired students and gives them the energy, and laugh, to get through an AP class.
Anderson was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. He has always had a certain love for history, his favorite being any type of American history. His enjoyment in learning history throughout his time in school is what inspired his career and future. Anderson took his love for history when choosing his major. “It’s a really good job to have in western New York where I’m from compared to other jobs that were available, but I also like working with young people and I like anything social studies related,” Anderson said.
After graduating from SUNY Buffalo State University, Anderson worked at Orchard Park Middle School in Orchard Park, New York. In 1998, Anderson moved to the DC Virginia area to start a family and continue in his teaching career. Anderson first worked at Damascus for 16 years before joining this school community, where he has been for 10 years. “We have pretty nice students who want to learn and be challenged and I have a really cool and supportive department,” Anderson said.
Though sports don’t show up much in government or the creation of the United States, Anderson is invested in multiple sports through his favorite teams. Not only are his walls decorated with constitutions and amendments, but football, hockey, and baseball posters live in his room as well. Newspapers of the Washington Capitals, a team he grew fond of with his move to DC, winning the Stanley Cup are displayed throughout the classroom. Anderson’s hometown can be easily identified with the variety of Buffalo Bills posters proudly hung in his classroom as well as his newer love for Washington teams such as the Washington Nationals.
With three children, Anderson loves sharing his interests with them. He enjoys spending time watching his children in their sports aside from the national ones he enjoys. “I like to attend their sporting events, I used to coach my son’s baseball team,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s teaching methods and understanding of students make for a positive student outcome. “He’s a good teacher because all the other classes get the same [workload],” sophomore Hailey Goldberg said.
