When it comes to English teacher Andy Gensler's approach to education, one size never fits all. Treating every student in his classroom as an individual, he combines high standards and a rigorous curriculum with the freedom for students to discover their own educational path. When his students write essays, Mr. Gensler doesn't give them grades but rather feedback, in the form of a narrative summary on specific strengths and areas of improvement. Fellow teachers often note the high quality of writing by students from Mr. Gensler's class. He has also helped turn reluctant readers into passionate ones, motivating them by finding literature that matches their interests. After his students read Stephen King's story "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," he took them to visit a jail in the area, to help students relate what they had read with the real world. Test scores in English and reading have risen consistently during his tenure at Eureka. Named Teacher of the Year by colleagues at both the school and district levels, Mr. Gensler is beloved by students, who voted him to be the faculty speaker at graduation. There are many who would agree that when they hired Andy Gensler at Eureka, they struck gold.
National Board Certified Teacher
