Mr. Hoffmeister
Mr. Hoffmeister started collecting stamps when he was fourteen years old. His grandfather had helped rescue a Polish family during WWII, and the two families remained friends through the years. One day, out of the blue, a box was delivered to Hoffmeister’s door, and it was filled with stamps through the years from around the world! Now, he still collects them and occasionally sells them online on Ebay, along with his coin collection.
Q: What colleges did you go to and what did you major in?
A. I started at Santa Barbara City College, studying engineering. At UCSB, I got my BA with Honors in German but also studied political sciences and public policies. I took a European Studies Master's program at University of Saint Louis, Missouri, and continued studying public policies and comparative politics of Europe. I spent a year at Aix-en Provence University in Southern France where I wrote my master's thesis comparing French and Japanese firms and their CEOs’ backgrounds. I studied education at Chapman University, and I got my credentials in German, French, and Social Studies at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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Q. What colleges did you go to, and what did you major in?
A. I started at Santa Barbara City College, studying engineering. At UCSB, I got my BA with Honors in German but also studied political sciences and public policies. I took a European Studies Master's program at University of Saint Louis, Missouri, and continued studying public policies and comparative politics of Europe. I spent a year at Aix-en Provence University in Southern France where I wrote my master's thesis comparing French and Japanese firms and their CEOs’ backgrounds. I studied education at Chapman University, and I got my credentials in German, French, and Social Studies at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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Q. How did you end up being a teacher?
A. I originally thought I would be a diplomat but was hired here for my engineering background to teach math part time, along with French and German classes. I was able to participate in the French and German exchange programs, which meant I was still able to travel.
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Q. How long have you been working at GHS, and why did you want to work here?
A. After finishing my student teaching in Santa Maria, I applied to GHS for a part time German position, and French and math were added on. I taught a political economy course at Claremont Graduate School for a bit, but decided to stick with GHS. I thought I’d only be here for five or six years when I started, but this is my thirty-first year!
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Q. What is your favorite thing about GHS?
A. I love how connected, helpful, and kind all the teachers are, and the strong, positive support from our administration.
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Q. How do you connect with your students?
A. I use poor humor and fun games to keep students engaged, and love to know what they’re involved in to further connect.
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Q. What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened in your classroom?
A. Fifteen years ago, the students had to memorize a short French story. A girl is reciting ti to me, and I keep hearing feedback. She was wearing an earpiece and was repeating what someone else was reading to her! When I asked about what was in her ear, she caused a distraction so I wouldn’t see her take it out, but my other students saw.
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Q. What is your favorite classroom decoration? Why?
A. Kids, especially soccer fans, like my Barcelona’s Michael Laudry jersey. I have posters from France, Germany, and other places I’ve been, a Ukrainian flag, helmets, and both my wife’s and my books from college, which students are free to check out.
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Q. What are your hobbies outside of class?
A. I used to be a martial artist and still train monthly with my instructors in Santa Barbara and South Bay. I do Chinese writing, as I was taught by one of my karate student’s mother twenty-five years ago. I learned Korean, too. I love to travel, especially to France, Germany, and Cancun, and my family takes the motorhome around the U.S. I walk, bike, read, and attend my son’s volleyball games. I also collect and sell coins and stamps on Ebay!
I started collecting stamps when I was fourteen. My uncle was a German Admiral in France, and was an avid stamp collector, and would give my stamps when I visited. My grandfather, during WWII, helped save a Polish family and get them VISAs to Canada, and they later moved to Chicago. Our families stayed close friends. One day, in 1975, when my friend and I were trading stamps, a large box was delivered to my doorstep. It was filled with old stamps from Poland and other countries! Turns out, they’d brought all these stamps to Canada with them when they escaped the Russians. I took that as a “sign from the heavens” to keep collecting, and have been ever since.
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1 in 2164 Interview for Tartan Media's Morning Announcements
Chloe Wilmsen, Faces Page Assistant Editor
