High School Students Seek Guidance from "Jedi Master"

To succeed in a class taught by teacher Kendra Hoffman, all that a student would need is “the force”.

A donation of candy and caffeine does not hurt the cause, either.

“The best way to get on her good side is to buy her gummy bears and black coffee from Wawa,” said former student Shannon Dougherty, 19.

Years after graduating, former students and athletes of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School continue to seek the guidance of teacher Kendra Hoffman, 31, their eccentric ‘Jedi Master.’

Hoffman, who teaches English and journalism, has a difficult time keeping her inner Star Wars geek bottled up inside her small, athletic frame.

Hoffman’s obsession is even present in her curriculum.

“When I think of her class, I always remember our ‘Jedi Induction’ assignment,” said Abbie Clarke, 18, one of Hoffman’s several protégés. “I love that she told us to ‘just write.’ Teachers rarely give that opportunity anymore and I thought that was great.”

While some students dislike her tangential storytelling and no-nonsense expectations, most connect well with Hoffman’s sarcastic, “play as hard as you work” mentality.

“Kendra is very student centered, down to earth and fun,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh High School guidance counselor Jeff Blizzard, 46. “I think she absolutely makes a connection with her students, specifically those within the extracurricular activities that she does.”

In addition to teaching English and journalism, Hoffman is a coach for the girls track team. Until just last year, she was also the faculty sponsor of the school’s two student newspapers.

“It’s a unique relationship with my girls, who I call my ‘tracklings,’” said Hoffman. “One minute I’m being their tough coach, and the next minute I have to play mom. But most of all, I feel like this proud older sister when my girls are having a great moment.”

Hoffman tries to maintain a friendly relationship with each of her favorite students and “tracklings” from years past. Often, Hoffman can be found dining with these select few.

“Once I have a student, they’re a student for life, especially if they want to stay in touch,” said Hoffman. “I’m honored to play the role of mentor.”

Studying fields such as communications, journalism, and education, her apprentices cite Hoffman as their major influence.

“She's the reason I'm going into Secondary English Education,” said Clarke. “I'll always remember how much she helped me grow as both a student and a person. She helped me realize a lot about what I want to do as a teacher, and she also helped me overcome a lot of personal obstacles as well.”

Clarke was not the only student who Hoffman helped overcome personal challenges. During the spring of 2009, Hoffman helped Dougherty’s through the pain of losing her aunt to cancer.

“When my aunt died, I came to school that next day and I was just sitting there with a blank stare on my face, and she wouldn’t let me leave the room,” said Dougherty. “She was like, no you have to come over here now, because she knew something was wrong. I didn’t want to talk but she made me.”

Stories such as Dougherty’s are not uncommon; Hoffman aims to take a personal interest in each and every one of her students.

“As a teacher, she doesn’t let you slip through the cracks,” said Blizzard. “When her students aren’t doing well, it affects her personally. It’s refreshing to see and I enjoy working with her.”

Born in the Scranton, Pa. area to parents Barb and Ken Atkinson, Hoffman was the second of two children. Hoffman’s family is a focal point of many of her digressive stories.

Currently working on a master’s degree in English writing from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Hoffman holds bachelor’s degrees in English and secondary education from Lebanon Valley College.

arning a GPA of 3.62, Hoffman was named to the 2002 Middle Atlantic Conferences All-Academic Team for softball during her senior year at Lebanon Valley College, according to the MAC’s website.

Hoffman has been teaching at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School since the 2006-2007 school year. But Hoffman has larger goals.

"I wouldn’t mind being an adjunct at the college level someday,” said Hoffman. “But what I really want to do is be published as a fiction writer.”

When not teaching or coaching, Hoffman escapes to her mountain house in the Poconos, where she enjoys snowboarding in the winter, and wakeboarding in the summer.

In June of 2007, Kendra married Christopher Hoffman, 34, effectively changing her nickname from “Ack” to “Hoff.”

Though some former students find the transition difficult, Hoffman has fully embraced the name change. Now hanging among her classroom decorations, which include Bruce Springsteen posters, Phillies jerseys, and Star Wars memorabilia, is a shirt adorned by David Hasselhoff’s face and the caption “Don’t hassle the Hoff.”

No matter what name she goes by, Hoffman will continue to be an inspiring mentor for generations of students to come.

“We like to check in with each other and see how things are going,” said Clarke. “She still gives me tidbits of advice for college. She's definitely the kind of mentor I want to keep in my life.”