It's the first day of school for students at this suburban high school. As you walk towards Ric Shahin's classroom, you notice positive and inspirational signage on his classroom door, as well as the fact that the students entering his classroom are doing so with smiles on their faces. However, you also notice that several students are entering without binders, planners, or pencils, and that they are taking their time. You are led to believe that students in Ric's class may not be high-achieving students, but that they enjoy being together and likely, enjoy Ric as a teacher.

You overhear a male senior student saying, "Man, it's going to be really cool to have Mr. Shahin as an English teacher! I had him for History last year and he was awesome." This student's friend, also male, responds, "Yeah, no kidding. He's sweet."

To learn more about the class Ric teaches, as well as his teaching experience and philosophy of teaching English, head into his classroom and click on the link to listen to what he had to say at the close of last school year.