English teacher Derek Henderson is a new addition to Germantown’s English department.
Q: What was the most useful college course you have ever taken?
A: Teaching of writing because the first time I really started thinking about how I did certain things in my writing and how I made my students think about why they did certain things and also how their reading related to their writing. It was a very useful course.
Q: What type of student were you in high school?
A: I was an underachiever; academically I was smart. I did not in a lot of ways live up to my potential and it took a very special teacher to get that out of me. That teacher who got it out of me is the one who inspired me to become a teacher myself. I was even voted class clown in my senior class. I was a joker but serious enough as a student.
Q: What is your favorite age group to teach?
A: Well, I have taught every high school level, but I like ninth and tenth graders the most. I have taught ninth the most. I feel like at that age you can influence them the most. I feel like if I can influence someone to go to college, it would be great.
Q: Has Germantown as a whole been welcoming?
A: I didn’t know what to expect coming from a rural area to the Memphis metropolitan area, but it has been very warm and inviting. I’ve always considered myself a Southerner and I’m glad to see I’m not out of the South here.
Q: What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of the school?
A: I love hunting, fishing, and gardening. I used to keep a pretty big garden. Right now I don’t have that but I hope to get back into it. I used to be a pretty avid surfer since I lived I lived near the beach, but not anymore. I’ve always been into a lot of outdoors stuff.
Q: What was the most useful college course you have ever taken?
A: Teaching of writing because the first time I really started thinking about how I did certain things in my writing and how I made my students think about why they did certain things and also how their reading related to their writing. It was a very useful course.
Q: What type of student were you in high school?
A: I was an underachiever; academically I was smart. I did not in a lot of ways live up to my potential and it took a very special teacher to get that out of me. That teacher who got it out of me is the one who inspired me to become a teacher myself. I was even voted class clown in my senior class. I was a joker but serious enough as a student.
Q: What is your favorite age group to teach?
A: Well, I have taught every high school level, but I like ninth and tenth graders the most. I have taught ninth the most. I feel like at that age you can influence them the most. I feel like if I can influence someone to go to college, it would be great.
Q: Has Germantown as a whole been welcoming?
A: I didn’t know what to expect coming from a rural area to the Memphis metropolitan area, but it has been very warm and inviting. I’ve always considered myself a Southerner and I’m glad to see I’m not out of the South here.
Q: What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of the school?
A: I love hunting, fishing, and gardening. I used to keep a pretty big garden. Right now I don’t have that but I hope to get back into it. I used to be a pretty avid surfer since I lived I lived near the beach, but not anymore. I’ve always been into a lot of outdoors stuff.