After 18 years at HPHS and 33 years in education, Mr. Wolfe’s career as a high school English teacher is sadly coming to a close. Known for his humorous yet extremely informative teaching style, Mr. Wolfe is a teacher loved by all those who have had the honor of being in his class. As an influential figure to all his students, Mr. Wolfe has made a meaningful mark at HPHS that will continue to radiate for many years to come.
Mr. Wolfe was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois. He went through the Evanston Township school system and received his diploma from Evanston Township High School (ETHS). For his undergraduate studies, he attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Then, he went on to graduate school at DePaul University and National Louis University. His first teaching job was at Maine East High School where he met his eventual wife, Karen, who still teaches Biology at Maine East today. Mr. Wolfe then found his way back to Evanston, teaching English at ETHS for 14 years. His last stop was HPHS — teaching all four grades over the last 18 years — where he currently teaches sophomores and juniors.
“Junior year is a nice sweet spot, but I do not prefer any particular course over another,” Wolfe said.
The junior-level class that Wolfe teaches is AP English Language and Composition (often referred to as AP Lang), a rigorous course taken by students who desire to improve their critical reading and writing skills. In his eyes, Wolfe believes that this class is “built to help students think, read, and write better, no matter what career they pursue.”
Fun fact: Mr. Wolfe was an AP Lang exam grader during the COVID-19 lockdown!
For many students, Wolfe’s class is memorable not only because of what they learn, but because of how they learn it. His eclectic teaching style radiates through the A300 hallways every day. Junior Charley Gore claims that Wolfe’s class is “a completely new experience every single day.”
“I go into each period with an open mind because I never know what those 55 minutes are going to hold,” Gore said.
That sense of unpredictability is what makes Wolfe’s class so engaging. Whether students are analyzing complex rhetorical analysis prompts, talking as a class about a text, or doing a “What’s your favorite?” (an annual Friday check-in question), Wolfe’s goal has always been to help them see the true meaning of their work.
When asked, “Why do you teach?” Mr. Wolfe’s response pointed to the moments when students really begin to connect with what they were learning.
“The feeling of a good day, or even a good class, is one of the best parts of teaching,” Wolfe said. “Whether it comes from a piece of text we are reading, a topic that comes up in discussion, or a question I ask at the right time, I love it when students can see themselves in the material. You can see it in the way they look at you, when the wheels start turning, and something finally clicks.”
Beyond the classroom, the non-academic aspects of his career were instrumental in his passion. For example, Mr. Wolfe is critically acclaimed at HPHS for his chili during Charity Drive’s annual Chili Cookoff. He has finished in the top 2 four years in a row, and this year, he came out on top in first place. His secret?
“Brisket. Brisket sells. I smoke it, like if you went to a barbecue restaurant.”
Wolfe was asked about what impact he hopes he had on his students over the last 33 years.
“Hopefully, I’ve made them laugh,” Wolfe said. “But more than anything, I would hope they leave as stronger critical thinkers, more thoughtful readers, and more effective writers. Hopefully, their time in this room has helped sharpen those skills.”
As Mr. Wolfe closes this chapter of his life, his legacy at HPHS remains in the students he has challenged, encouraged, and inspired. Through his dedication to learning, Wolfe has fostered an environment in room A325 that is more than just an English classroom decorated in Pink Floyd, Marlon Brando, and Rosie the Riveter posters. He has made it a place where students can reflect deeply on themselves and the world around them, leaving an everlasting impact on Highland Park High School.