The Rotary Club of Arcadia recently honored Mr. Logan Maertens as Teacher of the Year. The Rotary Club of Arcadia, founded in 1927 and commenced in Arcadia in 1942, is an organization recognized for being the largest private provider of international education scholarships. 

Mr. Maertens, who teaches Junior English, Advanced Journalism (Yearbook), and AP English Language and Composition at Arcadia High School (AHS), was one of two recipients of Teacher of the Year, along with Ms. Neda Kuso. 

This award recognizes exemplary teachers who contribute to quality education and inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities. For this, Mr. Maertens received $100 and a plaque that he now keeps in his classroom, A-202. 

“I was pretty surprised,” he recalls. “Dr. Dillman, Dr. Muñoz, Ms. Lew, and I walked through the halls. We just ran into each other in the hall, and they just told me. It’s a rewarding way to end the school year.”

This school year, Mr. Maertens focused the traditional AP English Language and Composition classroom on personal development rather than one’s letter grades.

As an assignment to wrap up the semester, Mr. Maertens had his students write a thoughtful letter to him, reflecting on their progress in the class and addressing how they experienced unique growth.

“The letters that I’ve seen from students have been impressive in how the students have developed and gotten better,” said Mr. Maertens. “By and large, I think students have been able to explain in detail what they gain[ed] from a class. Generally, it has been pretty positive. I’m impressed with what students articulate about their learning.”  

His students found their experience this school year to be precious. Some of them were able to share their personal experiences. 

“Personally, for me, I think [the school year] went pretty well.” junior Laura Zhang expressed. “Truly, your work is the product of your time and effort.”

Junior Jackie Chen shared similar sentiments. “Because we don’t have tests and grades aren’t as emphasized, all the assignments we do and the effort we put in are from us and how passionate we are about our subject,” she stated. “When you want to learn and do assignments because you genuinely want to, that, I think, is what learning, progressing, growing as a student means.”

Mr. Maertens cultivates a personal relationship with each of his students, ultimately building a very interconnected classroom community. Upon receiving Teacher of the Year, his period 5 AP English Language and Composition students serenaded his accomplishment with a congratulatory song. 

Chen shared, “I think it’s great because I’ve never had a teacher and a curriculum like this. It’s amazing that this new form of teaching that I like is getting recognized.”

Another student from Mr. Maertens’s period 5, junior Mason Temple, said, “It inspires other teachers to want to adopt a similar approach to teaching. I know I’ve made so much progress in this class. But, honestly, Mr. Maertens is the best teacher I’ve ever had, and I’m not saying that just for the sake of saying that. He genuinely is the best teacher I’ve ever had.” 

Temple continued, “I’ve never progressed so much as a student and have achieved so much. At the start of the year, I could barely write three paragraphs of an essay, but now it comes intuitively. And it’s not because of him putting pressure on us to get better, but because of the lack of pressure, I was able to achieve all that I’ve wanted to do and become a better reader and writer.”

To his future students who are lucky enough to be in his classes next year, Mr. Maertens advised them to “be open-minded and don’t expect anyone else to be responsible for what you learn.” 

Let’s give it up for Mr. Maertens and his role in transforming the education system one assignment at a time! We are very excited to see him inspire his next group of students in the upcoming school year. 

Photo courtesy of Arcadia High School Administration