Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/93284
NICK BAER '96 EDUCATION B.A. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign POSITION AND YEARS AT LATIN Upper School Theater Teacher, Tenth Grade Dean. This is my ninth year. WHAT MADE YOU RETURN TO LATIN AS A TEACHER? The opportunity to learn from and work with one of my mentors, longtime Latin theater teacher Ann Hartdegen, was what first drew me to teaching here. The chance to design and implement an Improv program that was both supported and encouraged sealed the deal for me. FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LATIN? My passionate, dedicated, and hilarious students and colleagues. Long block Improv Company. Our ridiculously amazing cafeteria. WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? Collaborating with students and colleagues to create something completely original and exciting. Seeing students take ownership of a show and realize what they can create when they care about something, trust one another, and keep their standards high. WHY ARE YOU IN EDUCATION? To help students discover what they love and make them love it more. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS? Improv and sketch comedy, sports, reading. WHAT WAS THE LAST GOOD BOOK YOU READ? Freedom by Jonathan Franzen WHAT ARE YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPALS? Don't be a jerk – it's not worth it. Appreciate the weirdness in everything and everybody. WHAT ARE THE TRAITS YOU ADMIRE MOST IN OTHERS? Empathy, self-awareness, sense of humor. WHAT PROFESSION, OTHER THAN EDUCATION, COULD YOU ALSO SEE YOURSELF DOING? Writer WHO HAS BEEN THE LARGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? My brother, who is five years older than me. From which comic books to read to which career paths to follow, there's been no one who has given me better advice over the years. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE? "I think you just need to find something you love to do, and do it for the rest of your life. For me, it's going to Rushmore." – Max Fischer, "Rushmore" UP CLOSE