Critics of history class would call it irrelevant and boring, focused on dry memorization from dusty old textbooks; but that’s not the case with Rutherford High School’s newest history teachers. This year, the Rutherford High School welcomed two teachers to the history department: Mr. Innis and Mr. Valdes. Both educators are already making an impact on students through their unique experiences and teaching styles.
Mr. Innis, who is now in his 15th year, took a less traditional path into teaching. During the Great Recession he worked various jobs while coaching high school wrestling which eventually led him to discovering his passion for teaching. “I realized how much I enjoyed being around high school students and wanted to make a career out of it,” he said. He later returned to school to earn his teaching certification and began teaching at the same school where he coached: St. Peter’s Prep, a private Jesuit high school located in Jersey City, NJ.
Mr. Valdes, who is currently in his 16th year of teaching, was inspired by a high school teacher who transformed lessons into stories. “She would just sit in front of the class and tell history like it was a story.” he said. This experience influenced his classroom today. “I don’t want to be a textbook teacher,” he said. “I want it to feel like an experience.”
After spending much of his career at Memorial High School: a much larger, urban school located in West New York, NJ, Mr. Valdes appreciates Rutherford’s smaller size and diversity along with the ability to connect more personally with students. He says RHS has been a refreshing change. “I’m just really happy to be here,” he said.
At RHS Mr. Innis says that what stands out most is the strong sense of community. He noted that many teachers are deeply involved in the town, whether through coaching, volunteering, or raising families in the district. “There’s a real investment in the students here,” he said. “Everyone wants to see them succeed, not just academically, but as people.”
While their backgrounds differ, their goals are the same: both teachers hope students leave their classes remembering more than just history. For Mr. Innis it’s how students feel. “You might not remember everything you learned,” he said, “but you’ll remember how you felt.” Mr. Valdes aims to keep students attentive by retelling historical events in a story-like manner. Both focus on creating an environment where students feel comfortable and heard.
Not only are they educators—but entertainers, who bring history to life by ensuring students are engaged consistently throughout classes.
And while they take history very seriously their personalities often come through in other ways too. Mr. Valdes loves golf and strongly dislikes “white condiments” while Mr. Innis had a bold opinion of his own: he doesn’t believe in homework. But, he does love to spend time with his family. “I would much rather spend time going hiking with my kids, going outside and playing catch with a baseball, or football, bringing them to a park, riding bikes, doing something with my kids, rather than sitting down and to do homework with them.”
At the end of the day both Mr. Innis and Mr. Valdes are outstanding teachers, made apparent by their very first year here at RHS. See below for student quotes!:
“Whenever I step into their classroom, I don’t know what to expect. They always make class fun and entertaining while making sure I retain the information being taught. Since this is my first year here in high school, I didn’t know what the teachers were going to be like. However, they make me feel optimistic about the next few years at RHS!” – 9th Grader
“Mr. Innis and Mr. Valdes are great History teachers. Due to their skills and ways of teaching, it made me truly appreciate and like their class. They are always there to help me and my peers if didn’t completely understand the topic or if someone had a question about it. Because of them I began to enjoy learning about history and If not for their effort, I would not be in [honors history] next year.” – Mark Gaidin
“Both of them are some of the best teachers I’ve ever had if I could have them a thousand times over again I would choose them as my teachers every time.” – Gianna Vasquez