Favorite part about teaching: When I’ve got a kid who really struggles in class and they pass their tests for the first time or do well on the AP Exam. It’s just as simplistic as watching a kid pass the class after struggling so hard all year. I like watching kids who put in the hard work reap some kind of benefit.

Favorite place: Sydney. It has all the vitality of San Francisco in terms of live music, the arts, sports—there’s just so many cool things to do. The Aussies are pretty cool.

Biggest pet peeve: Popping gum and when people say “melk” instead of milk or “pellow” instead of pillow. How does “melk” make sense? It’s not m-e-l-k, it’s m-i-l-k. It doesn’t happen often but when it does it bothers me.

Job you would have if not a teacher: Disaster relief, like when I went to New Orleans after

Hurricane Katrina and worked for Camp Hope. That’s what I’d like to do, either work for Habitat for Humanity full-time or do disaster relief. It may be stacking sand bags or knocking down houses, as long as I’m physically making a difference. The best way to describe it was when I was in New Orleans working in the soup kitchen, and I got to sit down and talk to the people there. I knew I was making an immediate difference. It was really life changing. So, disaster relief and/or President.

Something we don’t know about you: I like to watch the Lifetime channel on TV. I like love stories and happy endings. I’m not ashamed of it. I love Love Actually. My favorite parts are when Hugh Grant’s character is dancing and when he runs around trying to track down the girl he likes. I like those happy ending stories, which may be weird because people think of me as a very sardonic person.

Advice for all students: Learn how to read and properly use the English language. Those are key to any kind of success.

“Mr. Van Derven is very tough and strict on his students, but in the end he really prepares us well for the AP test.” –Naina Rao, senior

“He is a really different type of teacher than any other teacher I’ve had. Van Derven for President 2016!” –Kat Fylling, junior

“His enthusiasm, his dedication, his hard work and commitment to excellence are all great qualities. Being able to work together is a fun dynamic and it provides a chance for us to share different perspectives with students. It’s very thought provoking to each other as well. Teaching with him helps me continue to be a better teacher.” –John Scott, AP United States History teacher