By: William Mandeville 

    With the merger of Youngsville to Eisenhower, Eisenhower welcomed Mr. Sanford to the EMHS staff. Mr. Sanford was a very well-known and beloved teacher at Youngsville. He is also a fantastic mentor and coach for the Esports team here at Eisenhower. The EMHS staff and students are thrilled to have him here at Eisenhower. 

     The Squire asked Mr. Sanford some questions to get to know him a little better. 

    The Squire: What is your favorite video game of all time? 

     Mr. Sanford: Dragon Age Origins, one of the best RPG stories ever told. It is so easy to immerse yourself in the world and develop a deep love of the companions alongside you and the unique world of Thedas that it connects you with. 

     TS: How do you like coaching the Esports team? 

       MS: I really enjoy it. Seeing students have fun and develop new digital skills is fantastic, beyond the teamwork it requires to be successful in competitive settings. 

     TS: What is your favorite hobby and why? 

     MS: Writing: In my free time I love to write, create stories and adventures for my novels, Dungeons and Dragons Campaigns, or just for a little fun. It is as enjoyable as crafting a unique world that even I often don’t know how the story will end until I let the tale find its own footing. This is why I ultimately published my first novel, Cryptic Wars the Creature, not so much because I thought it would be successful but because I wanted to share something I love doing, writing and world building. 

     TS: How do you like teaching at Eisenhower this year? 

     MS: I have enjoyed teaching in a new building. Having the familiar faces from Youngsville provides a nice anchor to connect me to where I came from and the new faces here at Ike have allowed me to experience a whole new group of unique personalities and individuals to work with and help challenge me to do better. 

    TS: What is one challenge of teaching? 

     MS: Limiting the material. I love history and the connections it has within, but we are on a limited time scale inside of the classroom and often times where, when, and how to present different material is an answer that alludes me. World War II could be a center for discussion for a month straight, but we do not have time for that to occur. How much is the proper amount? And that is an often almost impossible question to answer. 

    TS: What inspired you to become a teacher? 

     MS: Growing up I was always fond of the stories of the past and how people became connected and impacted by historic events. That may have been the start, but after seeing teachers and educators around me, like Mrs. Linkerhof and Mrs. Robinault, exploring and explaining concepts to students I knew that I wanted to turn my love of history into a career where I could share my knowledge and ideas. 

     TS: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?  

     MS: Time travel is arguably the easiest answer. I would love to be able to witness and understand the events of the past and their ramifications for those that we have limited knowledge about. History is scientific analysis of text, but we are flawed and the ability to peer into the past would allow us to truly understand the world and its actions over time. 

     The Squire would like to thank Mr. Sanford for answering the questions so we can get to know him a little more. Feel free to stop by his room and welcome Mr. Sanford to Eisenhower!