With the love for the German language, Mr. Andrew Baker, one of the new staff members this year at North Penn High School, explains how his experience as an alumni of North Penn has helped him and influenced him to follow his studies in the German language field. Consequently, he earned his undergraduate degree in German at Boston University and his Master’s at University of Pennsylvania.
As a student, Herr Baker was very drawn to the International friendship program. “It was the exchange program that we have here. Not the year long one, but the October one…so I got to meet about twenty-five kids… five or six I made really good friends with, and I still visit them. I wanted to communicate more with them and learn who they were,” explained Herr Baker.
Our school’s International Friendship Club has been opening the doors for students to interact with people from around the world for years, and Herr Baker was one of the many people that really embraced and enjoyed the opportunities of the club, including the inspiration to pursue a career in German. Years later, Herr Baker has returned and wants to give other students the chance to have that same experience by getting involved in the German Club and the International Friendship Club.
“I could easily see myself staying here, working with the International Friendship Club and the German club! Keeping that alive! Because for me that is what spurred me on”
Sensei Coyle, the Japanese teacher at North Penn High School remembers him as having a great sense of humor during his high school years. “He was my student for three years. He was smart, funny, and a very popular student,” says Coyle.
Even though Baker was excited to come back, one cannot forget how different it must be to work and see the teachers that once taught you as your new coworkers.
“I didn’t know what to expect and coming back and meeting them as peers was kind of daunting;” however, he adds that although it was intimidating, he has really enjoyed seeing everyone again, as well as meeting other new teachers in the building.
“It’s kind of hard because it has been only two weeks. But he gets along, and he is very serious about teaching. He is always asking questions and he is willing to accept advice” said Sensei Coyle. Being a hard-working student and teacher, Baker excels in what he does, and is very open-minded to any opinions that will help him be better than just an average teacher.
Herr Baker is very glad that he is teaching the one thing he is very passionate about: German. “I was always coming back one form or another… I never thought a spot would open up for me and I also was thinking more along the lines of social studies. I am also able to teach social studies, [but] I love German and was kind of just lucky it kind of fell in my lap”
Besides teaching, you may find Herr Baker, a huge New Jersey Devils hockey fan, playing ultimate Frisbee, ice hockey, listening to Die Prinzen, a 90’s German pop-rock band, or traveling as much as he can to as many places as possible; especially Germany, which he has visited many times.