Favorite Teacher: Mr. Jeff Christopherson, Science

What makes him a favorite?
Though Daggavolu said she “likes all her teachers,” she named Mr. Christopherson as her favorite for his energetic,“playful” approach and ability to make learning fun—even in his final year of teaching.

“We all love him,” Daggavolu said.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Although science hasn’t always been Daggavolu’s favorite subject, having Mr. Christopherson for first-hour chemistry everyday has changed her perspective.  

“Even though he’s a really hard grader,” and his tests are challenging, Daggavolu said, she learns something new in his class “every day.” 

Christopherson, Daggavolu said, he teaches lessons—about science and life—“that stick with you.”

Her older sister also had him and predicted Venya would enjoy his class—and she was right.

Beyond the classroom:
Outside the classroom, Daggavolu said, she admires Christopherson’s photography. 

“At track meets, he always takes the best shots of our athletes,” she said. 

“He’s just a really good person.”

A family connection:
Daggavolu’s older sister, Shreenija, had Christopherson as a teacher too. Shreenija predicted that Venya would enjoy his class—and she was right.

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Kevin Shackley, Social Studies

What makes him a favorite?
Chauhan described Mr. Shackley as “really outgoing,” “really funny—or he tries to be” and praised him for being “really sweet and understanding.” 

She said he gives a manageable amount of work and that his class is easy to follow, which helps her stay engaged.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Having Mr. Shackley during first hour helped Chauhan approach school with a more relaxed mindset, the sophomore said.

“He just gave me a different perspective in school,” she said, explaining that his laid-back attitude reminded her that while school is important, it shouldn’t be overwhelming.

A strong start to the day:
Though Chauhan said she doesn’t have one standout memory, she enjoys his class overall and looks forward to it.

“I just enjoy coming into school,” she said.

Looking ahead:
“I hope I get him in future classes,” Chauhan said, noting how “chill and fun” Shackley is.

But what sets the social studies teacher apart, Chauhan said, isn’t just his laid-back attitude—it’s how genuinely he “cares about the students.”

“It’s really nice,” Chauhan said.

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Bryan Thomas, Social Studies

What makes him a favorite?
Marroquin said that her favorite teacher is her Regional World Studies teacher. 

 “He really pushes me to be better,” she said. “And he’s really funny sometimes, too.”

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Marroquin said the discipline and study habits she’s built in “Coach T’s” class have carried over into her other classes.  

“I definitely started using the techniques I use in his class for other classes,”Marroquin said. “Second semester, I’ve been way ‘more better’ with my grades and on top of assignments,” referencing a phrase Thomas often uses in class.  

“I think that’s all just because of him.”

A message that stuck:  
One of her most memorable moments came during class when she was chatting with a friend. “The class went quiet, and he just announced, ‘Dayana, keep your A,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ Then I went back to work.”

Thomas is not afraid to “call [students] out,” Marroquin said. “I do get distracted in his class—he really calls me out on stuff that most teachers should.”

A sweet thanks:
“Thank you for pushing me to be the person I am now,” Marroquin said.

Favorite Teacher: Ms. Carrie Verner, MTSS Interventionist 

What makes her a favorite?
Martinez said Ms. Verner stands out because of her kindness and willingness to help. “She’s really nice to me, and she always helps me with my work,” she said.

How has she impacted your time at NCHS?
Martinez credited Verner with helping her get back on track academically. “I had a lot of missing assignments, and she helped me get them all up,” she said.

A message:
Despite being Martinez’s favorite, the freshman said Verner still “owes them an iced coffee,” a reward promised for finishing her work.

Favorite Teacher: Mr. John Boenzi, Math; Track & Field coach

What makes him a favorite?
Kehl described Mr. Boenzi as both a supportive teacher and a motivating coach. 

“He’s a pretty good math teacher,” Kehl said. “Very supportive, always open to help… never really frustrated.” 

On the track, Boenzi pushes his athletes to grow. 

“He’s very motivational… always eager to push you on so you succeed.”

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?:

 Kehl said that Boenzi has helped make high school more enjoyable. 
“He gave me something to look forward to,” he said, adding that Boenzi’s support helped him through some tough moments.

The step into high school:  
Kehl recalled meeting “Coach Bo” at a summer throwing camp before freshman year. “I told him something about how far I threw in junior high,” Kehl said. “And he just flat out said, ‘I don’t care. It’s high school now.’” That honesty, Kehl said, was when he knew Buensi would be a fun and challenging coach.

A message of appreciation:
“Thank you for pushing me,” Kehl said. “I know I will go pretty far with you.”

Favorite Teacher: Ms. Kaitlin Shoukry-Mulcahy, Math

What makes her a favorite?
Vogt said she’s had Ms. Shoukry-Mulcahy as a teacher for two years, but even outside of class, Shoukry-Mulcahy consistently supported her. “Even when I wasn’t in her class, she would always email me, asking me for help and offering help,” Vogt said.

How has she impacted your time at NCHS?
“I used to not like math,” Vogt said. “But now, going into her class, I actually enjoy it a little bit more.”

Support that extended beyond the schedule:
When Vogt struggled with precalculus earlier in the school year—with a different teacher—Shoukry-Mulcahy still made time to help. 

“She would always check up on me in the hallway, and I would always meet with her after school,” Vogt said. “She would always help me.”

A simple thanks:
“Thank you,” Vogt said.

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Peter Schmuldt, Math

What makes him a favorite?
“Mr. Schmuldt’s my favorite because he makes math fun,” Lowry said. Lowry described Schmuldt as encouraging and funny, someone who motivates students to do their best.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Lowry said she typically dislikes math, but Schmuldt’s approach changed that. 

“He makes me want to go [to class] because I know that we’ll do something fun, or he’ll find a way to make math fun,” she said.

Pie, prizes, and participation:
A favorite memory for Lowry was a celebration for Pi Day. 

Schmuldt “brought in snacks and food for us to all eat,” she said. “We had a little pie party, and it was super fun. We played games, and he provided almost everything.”

A final thank-you:
“Mr. Schmuldt, thank you for being the best math teacher at NCHS,” Lowry said.

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Christopher Belt, English

What makes him a favorite?
Corrington said Mr. Belt creates a class environment that’s relaxed but still productive.

“It doesn’t feel super strict… we get things done, but also have fun with it,” she said.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
In a school day filled with repetition, Corrington said Belt’s class stands out. 

“All my classes throughout the day… it’s just the same thing every day,” she said. “But his class is fun.” 

On difficult days, Corrington said, Belt’sclass never made things worse—he offered patience and understanding.

A classroom that stays open:
Even though she doesn’t have Belt as a teacher this year, Corrington still finds herself stopping by his classroom during flex days. 

“I just go sit in his classroom while they watch a movie or something,” she said. “I get homework done in there, but also just talk to him and update him about everything.”

A note of thanks:
“Thank you for four semesters of good learning and fun,” Corrington said.

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Max Ward, Computer Science/Math

What makes him a favorite?
“He really just cares about students’ learning and their education,” Fowler said. He described Mr. Ward as “very personable,” making him approachable and easy to talk to.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Fowler credited Ward with deepening his interest in computer science and making a challenging subject more enjoyable.

“He’s made my experience at NCHS better than it already was,” he said.

Starting the week right:
A moment that stands out to Fowler is how Ward begins each week. 

Every Monday, Fowler said, Ward asks the class what they did over the weekend. 

We have a quick discussion, Fowler said, which “just starts off the week nicely.”

A simple message:
“Good luck next year at Illinois Community College, you’re going to kill it.” [Mr. Ward announced his resignation from Unit 5 earlier this year.] 

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Patrick Lawler, Social Studies

What makes him a favorite?:
“Mr. Lawler is just genuinely the funniest teacher I’ve ever had,” Borne said.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?:
Borne said Lawler’s class became one he looked forward to—even when the material didn’t immediately interest him. 

Lawler’s class, Borne said, is one he is now “generally excited about.”

A favorite field trip:
Borne’s favorite memory was a recent field trip Lawler chaperoned to Chicago. 

“We went to the Field Museum and the Bean and stuff,” he said. “It was just an awesome time. We got to talk with him” most of the day. “It was probably my favorite time at NCHS ever.”

A message from a fan:
“You’re just a great dude and keep doing what you’re doing,” Borne said. “Students love you.”

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Dave Witzig, Social Studies

What makes him a favorite?
Wallace said Mr. Witzig stands out not only as a teacher, but as a coach. 

“Since I’m the basketball manager,” Wallace said, “I’m around him every day.” 

“He’s a great coach… I just love what he does,” he said. 

But Witzig’s accomplishments on the court don’t diminish his impact in the classroom. 

“He’s a very good teacher,” Wallace said.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Wallace has known Witzig throughout high school and credits him with his involvement in the basketball program. 

“He’s the one that let me be a part of the basketball team… I wouldn’t be on the basketball team without him,” Wallace said.

A shared sideline moment:
One of Wallace’s favorite memories came during basketball season when a teammate hit a clutch shot. 

“We got hyped with each other… it was a fun, fun moment with us,” he said. I “hope to have many more of them.”

The kind of presence that matters:
Witzig is “just always a nice guy to be around,” Wallace said. 

Favorite Teacher: Ms. Emily Houk, English

What makes her a favorite?
Houk “makes it fun to go to English class every day,” Engel said. 

But Houk doesn’t just focus on teaching content—she makes an effort to build connections. 

“She’s always really nice and always talks to us,” Engel said.

How has she impacted your time at NCHS?
As someone who doesn’t typically enjoy English, Engel said Ms. Houk’s class made the subject feel more engaging. 

“It’s not boring in her classroom anymore,” she said.

A favorite memory:
Engel recalled one lighthearted moment that stood out—driven by the class’s curiosity to learn more about Houk and connect with her beyond the curriculum.

Houk “took the class outside one day,” Engel said, and “we were trying to figure out her boyfriend, and she wouldn’t tell us” anything about him. 

Gratitude in a sentence:
“Thank you for making English more fun,” Engel said.

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Jezuete LaFuente, Foreign Language

What makes him a favorite?
Soto said Mr. Lafuente stands out because of his ability to relate to students. 

“Since he is a young teacher, he relates to most of his students,” Soto said. “He understands… some days we need off, and he’s just a really fun teacher in general.” 

Soto added that Lafuente doesn’t make class solely about work and tries to make every day enjoyable.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Before Lafuente’s class, Soto said she felt nervous about academic Spanish, but now she’s more confident and comfortable. 

“He’s helped me learn a lot more Spanish… since I know Mexican-Spanish, he’s helped me learn new, different words,” she said, including vocabulary from Spain.

A weekly ritual that sticks:
Soto’s favorite part of the class is a weekly activity where students reflect on their weekends. “Every single week, we do a ‘fin de semana,’” where Lafuente “asks us about our week. I just really like that,” she said.

A heartfelt thank-you:
“I love you, Mr. Lafuente.”

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Matthew Chapman, Social Studies/Learning Resource/Head soccer coach

What makes him a favorite?
Ushcasotocatal said she appreciates how Chapman balances his dual roles. 
“He keeps his teaching life and his coaching life separate,” she said, saying that Chapman knows how to handle both responsibilities well.

How has he impacted your time at NCHS?
Chapman has been a steady presence in both the classroom and on the field.
“I know I can go to him for school-related stuff, and then still go to him for soccer-related stuff,” she said.

Support beyond the subject:
Ushcasotocatal said she often sees Chapman at iClub meetings, the school’s athlete leadership organization, where he creates space for meaningful conversations with students—discussions about real challenges they face, “like how mental health” impacts athletes, Soto said.

A message of appreciation:
“Thank you for understanding and being such a good coach and a teacher,” Ushcasotocatal said.