John Conner’s classroom was not the typical high school classroom. Conner, the beloved AP US history teacher, was always able to make students and faculty laugh. Conner announced his resignation to his classes on November 9, which was also his last day. Conner’s witty approach to a dense AP curriculum made him a popular teacher among students.
“He lightened the mood on the whole AP class system, because he would make jokes, and make class fun,” senior Carrie Cunningham said.
Many teachers on campus also admire how easily he could use humor in the classroom to immerse students in the studies.
“Nobody falls asleep in his class, because you’re always engaged,” AP Government teacher and girls soccer coach Jeff Kear said. “You never know what he might do next, and I think that that’s important that the kids really aren’t 100 percent sure what will happen. They’ll always pay attention.”
All jokes aside, Conner could interact with students and connect on a personal level.
“He reminds me that we’re not just here to present information and assignments and things, that you have to have a personality that lets you connect with the students. And he does that,” Kear said.
His unique teaching style helped many students get through a difficult course.
“He got kids,” junior Caroline Appleby said. “He didn’t just stand up and lecture and make it boring. He interacted and related things to us so that we could understand it.”
Conner influenced the teaching style of many faculty members in a positive way.
“He made me feel more confident as a teacher,” World Geography teacher Tara Evans said.
Since Conner’s resignation, Evans has taken over his classes for the remainder of the year.
“I am really excited for Mrs. Evans to start teaching, and I will be glad to work with her,” junior Molly Lacey said.
Although students are excited about Evans teaching the course, many will miss Conner’s unique style.
“He taught me that not all teachers are annoying, and showed me that an AP class can be cool,” Appleby said.
In addition to sharing his history expertise with students, Conner often aided teachers in the subject he taught.
“He was always my go-to person, He is like an encyclopedia of everything historical. I knew that he would know everything I needed,” AP Language teacher Kathryn Pabst said.
Even faculty acknowledge his charismatic approach to history.
“I like the fact he is very knowledgeable about his subject, but he isn’t stuffy,” AP World History teacher Kevin Finn said.
Some think that the change in staff will affect the popularity of the class.
“I think that not as many people are going to take AP US History,” Appleby said. “Many people signed up for that class so they could have Mr. Conner as a teacher. And now that he is gone I do not think that a lot of people will take the course anymore.”
Many around campus will remember Conner for his funny inside jokes and commentary.
“He does an imitation of me that my students say is fabulous and that I will miss, because I have a sense of humor too,” Pabst said.
Activites and group presentations took on a new meaning in Conner’s class.
“I was taught how to rap in that class,” junior McKay Walters said. “Of course it was educational, but I was taught how to rap and it was really fun. We rapped about the anti-federalists.”
An aspect of Conner that many remember is his clever teasing of those around him.
“A lot of other people make fun of me for being Canadian, but he was just the most witty about it,” AP Physics B teacher Michael Voth said.
Even students did not escape Conner’s wit in class and in the halls.
“It was really funny, last year I cut my hair really short and I always wore a leather jacket so he would always comment on me and my ‘motorcycle gang’. He was just always really funny,” Cunningham said.
Students and teachers would like to send some last wishes out to Conner, even though they do not want him to depart.
“I am going to miss him,” senior Ashlynn Gibson said, “He helped me through that class and high school and made an AP class enjoyable, so I thank him for that.”
