The weight of freshly graded papers, the planning for next week’s unit, the sigh of another email—it all happens primarily at one place: the teacher’s desk.
A desk, simply put, is a piece of furniture to read, write, or work on. Some students may have one at home, but they all differ in what is kept on them and how they are organized. The way one arranges their room, and more relevant, their desk, shows a lot about their personality.
Culinary teacher Amber Russell likes to keep herself organized. Throughout the year, culinary students cater and serve various staff meetings and events.
“[The most important thing at my desk] is my calendar. So I can keep track of what’s coming in the next week,” Russell said.
ASL teacher Alicia Stoffers strives to make a welcoming classroom environment and show off her interests with a Ravenclaw flag and hockey team King Posters.
“I’ve aimed to make my classroom a comfortable place for me and for others,” Alicia Stoffers said. “[I would describe myself as] authentic. I feel like I am truly who I am no matter what.”
Algebra 2 and AP Stats teacher Joseph Warrick also keeps a stationary bike in his classroom, using it occasionally while he grades tests and other assignments.
“It’s certainly not very personal, but my computer and being able to project and instruct is the most important thing because that’s my job,” Warrick said.
American Government teacher Corey Mayne is an engaging teacher, whose students give him various gifts each year.
“[I have] the flag I got last year, I got some drawings from other students, [and] some ceramic stuff,” Mayne said.
AP Literature and English 9 teacher Christian Holst is almost always up and about in his classroom, moving around when giving instructions or lecturing.
“At my desk, the most important thing to me is my stand up extension. For a long time, I struggled with back pain and standing all day has really helped address that,” Holst said.
Music theory, band, and percussion teacher Andre Copher keeps a variety of instruments in his office.
“The coolest thing I leave in my office is my mbira from Zimbabwe,” Copher said. “I leave this in here so I can play or practice a little bit.”
AP Language teacher Amber Derbidge likes to have her space organized her way. She likes to know where an item is when she needs it. She also keeps a variety of gifts from students at her desk.
“I’ve got a [plush] cat in a tube, a Niko Atsumi little buddy from a student a few years ago. Most of them are cat things obviously. [And a] Space Cat blanket,” Derbidge said.
AP United States History teacher Kelli Peters is a dog lover and likes to keep photos of her dogs at her desk.
“The thing I use the most is my computer [and] my keyboard,” Peters said. “But the thing[s] I actually value a lot [are the] pictures of my dogs.”
AP Pre-Calculus teacher Dan Hoffman is said to be a favorite teacher among students, retrieving numerous gifts from students over the years.
“Every single thing in this class, except the Expo markers, is a student thing,” Hoffman said. “So the Red Bull sound [rain] stick, that reminds me when I’m out of caffeine to just, you know, be strong. I’ll get some more soon.”
While it’s only a glimpse into teachers’ personalities, a desk can say a lot about someone’s interests and priorities. Some teachers are more fun and relaxed, some are more about the books and work, and some are in between with a little bit of both sides.
From practical tools to personal totems, the desks of AGHS offer more than just a place to grade—they provide a curated window into the lives and passions of the people leading the classroom.
