Michael Klippert, social studies teacher at River Ridge Middle School, believes that a good teacher is "a thief, and actor, a psychologist, a salesman and a true believer." "Stealing" ideas from other teachers and from his own reading, he makes his classroom a stage where he draws students into the drama of history, so they will understand concepts, not just memorize facts. As part of his dedication to making his classes relevant to the real-life needs of his students, Mr. Klippert has developed a consumer education course for eighth graders that incorporates computers, law and economics, and emphasizes the impact of all of these on students' lives.
