SouthFlorida.com | Teen Link South Florida

From race-car drivers to bodybuilding champions, teachers throughout Broward are living unique lifestyles and taking on odd hobbies.

So next time you doubt the coolness of your teacher, take a second look; you might be surprised at what teachers are doing ... AFTER HOURS.

In room 316 at Piper High, you can find journalism, yearbook and TV production teacher Mr. Jovan Condé .

However, long before he started teaching at Piper High, Condé interned on The Jerry Springer Show.

Condé was one of many interns whose job was to answer phones, listen to people's stories and book guests. "I would also greet the guests when they came to the show," Condé said.

But was he buddy-buddy with host Jerry Springer? Sadly ... no. There were some "hi-bye" moments with Jerry, however.

Condé was not there to break up fights or appear on television (although he was on air for a quick second during one episode).

"It was cool working there, because it was different," Condé said.

- Tina Ashchian, Piper High

You name it, he's done it.

Outside the classroom, you can find David Posnack Hebrew Day School's Chemistry teacher Doctor Pepitone racing NASCAR for the Rovel Racing Team, salvaging lost objects from sunken boats or drumming away in his band.

But his untraditional hobbies are not the only reason why "Doc" is fascinating. He's also had a number of businesses and professions. He owns a hot dog stand in Jacksonville, was an animal doctor, and owned two schools and a daycare center.

"I try to do as many things in life as possible, because you only get one shot," he said.

- Sarah Azizi, David Posnack Hebrew Day School

Nino Liguori, an art teacher at Sagemont Upper School, has changed the way students view art class.

As an aspiring artist himself, Mr. L uses techniques he learned in college to give students a broader perspective of what art truly is.

With his combination of a relaxed atmosphere and what many students call his "an awesome personality," Liguori has made art a favorite class for many.

"He's kind of goofy and he's always making jokes," junior Hanan Elmasry said. "Whether it's about the students or himself, it still makes us laugh."

- Kamila Albert, Sagemont Upper School

Ronit Reoven, a geography and AP Psychology teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, extends her love of culture into the summer, when she visits Israel.

Although the trip serves partly as a vacation to see her family, Reoven enjoys taking other teachers to see the country so they can experience the same love she feels toward her family's homeland.

"I like to open other people's eyes to the world, to show them the good, the bad and the ugly," she said.

Reoven has experienced it all. She was even in Israel during the Hezbollah attacks in July 2006.

"I think it's really interesting to see how the people there don't live in fear, they just live for the moment. What a beautiful thing!"

- Amanda Levine, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High

Joel Giacobbe, who teaches Anatomy and Physiology at Archbishop McCarthy High, is especially well-versed in the ins and outs of the human body.

As a former body builder, Giacobbe teaches his classes with a focus on physical and mental wellness as well as the achievement of personal goals.

Winner of the 1985 Southern States Bodybuilding Contest, Giacobbe has a long history as a bodybuilder, author and teacher. He trained and won six awards between 1982 and 1985.

Giacobbe took a break from competing to become an educator. As a teacher at McArthur High, he won Teacher of the Year in 1999. In 2000, he became a teacher at Archbishop McCarthy and won the Deaver Award in 2003-04 and the John 13 Award in 2006-07.

He has had seven articles published in magazines, including Building the Body and Strength Power Update.

After 19 years out of competition, Giacobbe decided to get back in the spotlight. He created a rigorous yet healthy training plan and stuck to it. Then 21 years after his last competition, Giacobbe took first place in the 2006 Mr. Southern States Over 40 Lightweight Division.

Giacobbe continues to train and encourage students: "Never give up on your goals, and be willing to adjust your plans to fulfill your goals."

For information on Giacobbe, check out www.joelgiacobbe.com.

- Bridget Farrell, Archbishop McCarthy

In the classroom, Angela Meyer is an Everglades High English teacher. But on the weekends, she is speeding down the tracks of a Homestead go-cart racing track.

This educator-turned-racing-machine changes into her jump suit in her spare time to have the wind against her body and a smile on her face.

Her fiancé was the person who got her into this fast-paced sport because he wanted to get back into racing.

"The first time he dragged me to the race track, my fiancé had a suit waiting for me," Meyer said. "Next thing I know, I'm racing down the track with a suit on and a helmet covering my head."

- Nelly L. Torres, Everglades High

Zoran Polic, who teaches Physics and supervises foreign exchange students at North Broward Prep, was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (present day Serbia), and is fluent in Serbo-Croatian.

As a teenager, he was an exchange student in North Carolina, and after winning the Diversity Visa Lottery in 2000, he moved to the U.S. and completed his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering at UNC Charlotte and his Master's degree in Computer Science.

Before becoming a teacher, Polic worked as a technician who climbed telephone poles for BellSouth Telecommunications and once operated radios on a military sky-watching unit. With BellSouth, he performed 911 Call Trace procedures as seen in movies. He also designed "Outside Plant Facilities" in North Broward for AT&T.

Polic prides himself as a contortionist; he is able to squat to the ground on one leg while the other remains wrapped around his body.

Despite his eclectic abilities, Polic said, "I decided to become a teacher because I love children and teaching."

- Lauren Zelaya, North Broward Prep

At Plantation High, there is an undercover dancer. Her name is Amy Holder and she teaches World History.

Holder danced jazz dance as a child, as a Fullerton High student and as a UCLA college student. Not only did she dance, but she also choreographed for her high school dance team.

Holder is now taking the opportunity to continue her first love while teaching; she is the adviser for the Plantation dance team, which does a mix of ballet, jazz and hip-hop.

"I am having a blast, and we are currently working on a number to perform at the first basketball game," she said.

- Keandra Gray, Plantation High

Nova High's creative writing teacher, newspaper adviser and assistant debate coach, Travis Kiger, has had many life experiences for someone who is only 27.

Just three years ago, at age 24, Kiger was living in Baton Rouge, La. He was the managing director for City of Peace, a nonprofit theater company that works with at-risk teens, teaching them to use improv theater to promote non-violent conflict resolution and teen activism. There are City of Peace organizations throughout the world, including Israel.

"Being involved in a nonprofit organization was inspiring - it contributed to my call to teach. It was awesome," Kiger said.

- Sarah Gilson, Nova High

Many teenagers love to express their opinions; we love to tell others what they are doing wrong - sort of like auditors.

An auditor evaluates people, organizations or processes.

This interesting career was one that occupied Stanley Bock for more than 20 years. He worked with different government agencies, including various police departments, the IRS and federal courts.

Now he teaches American Government, American History and Economics at Piper High, where he usually gets a warmer reception than he did before.

"People did not want to see me coming," he said about being an auditor. "Either there was trouble before or I made trouble."

- Sana Khan, Piper High

Valerie Arena, Coral Springs High's AP Art History and Literature teacher, never considered teaching while in college. A student in the 1960s, she experienced the fiery protests of the Vietnam and Civil Rights eras, and those motivated her philosophical and analytical approach to life.

Arena decided to seek an alternative lifestyle, one without a family, and a year after graduating college, she joined a convent. As a first-year postulant, Arena learned about theology and her duties as a member of the convent - rather unexpected duties, as Arena found herself teaching.

This was a career she had never considered, despite the fact that both her parents were teachers. In the convent, she began "teaching children to love learning," and She discovered that she herself loved learning, and surprisingly, loved teaching more.

One of the greatest things she learned as a nun was "to accept life with mystery. We don't need concrete answers for abstract concepts," she said.

Although Arena left the convent after six years, she doesn't regret her experiences. "I was excited to open other doors," she said. "The greatest door I opened was to 7201 W. Sample Road. It is the only place I've been happy for 28 years."

- Dana Hatic, Coral Springs High

LaChaux Rich teaches American History, American Government and Sociology at American Heritage School in Plantation.

But his first career was a lot more physical. He used to play professional football.

Rich played at the University of Arizona and in 1998, he went to Minnesota as an undrafted free agent. He was selected to be a "Journeyman," or a player who practiced with the team but did not play, and he only wore the Vikings jersey during the preseason.

After a season in Minnesota, Rich went to Barcelona, Spain, where he played for NFL Europe. One season later, Rich switched to the Canadian Football League, where he played for Saskatchewan.

After one season in Canada, Rich joined the Arena Football League, where he played for the Tampa Bay Storm.

Then, Rich joined the XFL. The XFL was a league started by wrestler Vince McMahon. It was similar to a football league, but had different rules, and the league only lasted a year.

Understandably, Rich grew tired of hopping from place to place. His pastor asked him to head up education at his church, and Rich's second career - education - was born.

- Mateus Falci, American Heritage School

"You have to do it to understand how great it is to get away from your normal routine," says Harriet Prato, an English teacher at Pembroke Pines Charter who has been riding motorcycles for more than 12 years.

Prato and her husband Richie are members of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Group. "My husband and I sometimes just take a ride to meditate," she said.

- Katie Evans, Pembroke Pines Charter

Steve Rosenthal, a substitute teacher at Cooper City High, is known as "Karate Steve." The reason: When he's done for the day, he also teaches karate to kids outside of school. And he's been doing it for 25 years.

"I've been practicing karate since I was 15," he said. "I never thought I'd make a living out of it. But now, I'm getting paid to do something I love, and I always look forward to going to work."

Even before he had a school of his own, he still found ways to teach people karate, sometimes even using his back yard. "There's a certain confidence that comes with teaching," he said. "And that goes for both karate and school."

- Katie Ackley, Cooper City High

James Scheidegger, a teacher at Pine Crest School, was in the Peace Corps for two years in the early 1990s.

"I initially joined for the wrong reasons," he said. "I was burned out from teaching, and it was something I'd always wanted to do. It seemed interesting, and there was that added bonus of helping people."

Scheidegger was stationed in Africa, in what was then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he worked in a hospital.

"The hospital oversaw a region about the size of Connecticut, and there were only three doctors. The infant mortality rate was almost 50 percent," he said.

Scheidegger's job was to try to organize health issues in the small villages, mainly dealing with trying to provide drinkable water. It was hard work, but Scheidegger has some good memories.

"My brother died while I was there, and when I came back from the States, one of the villages had a huge funeral for him with drummers and dancers. I was really touched."

Scheidegger ended up being evacuated before his two years were up, but credits his time in the Peace Corps for making him realize that he was meant to be a teacher.

- Stephanie Ghitis, Pine Crest School

Michael Howard, a TV Production and Journalism teacher at Western High, not only knows about the entertainment industry, he has met Hollywood face to face. He has been in a movie, done film work for music artists, and has been a DJ for various radio stations and clubs.

Howard was in Caddyshack II, playing one of the main caddies. It was just being "at the right place at the right time," he said.

He has also shot music videos for various independent artists. His freelance video work propelled him through Europe, and one of the videos he shot even made it to BET.

His hands-on role in the entertainment industry helped him "get an experience of real-life Hollywood." The numerous experiences he has had give him a worldly knowledge of film and journalism that shows through in the classroom.

- Elysha Weinberger, Western High

Karin "Captain" Cook, an English teacher at J.P Taravella, smiles at the mere mention of running to help others.

She spends about 10-15 hours per week running, and her goal is to run a marathon in each of the 50 states.

Her last race was in Washington D.C in honor of her uncle, a marine just diagnosed with acute leukemia. However, Cook said the Alaska marathon during the midnight sun was the most exhilarating.

"We were given bells to run with to ward off bears as we ran through the woods and up a mountain," Cook said. "The shocker was the Toe-Tag we had to wear in case we were swatted by a big mama bear!"

Through running, Cook has raised more than $8,000 for charity.

"Running is the only time I can be by myself. It allows me to think about and everything," she said.

- By Mercedes Machado, J.P. Taravella

Thomas Herrmann is a famous teacher at Cardinal Gibbons High - at least famous to the student body. Even those who do not take his physics classes and simply see him around campus know him for his crazy antics.

Herrmann is best-known for the costumes he wears for his class projects: He dresses as a Roman gladiator for a project involving a catapult and as a pirate for a class Scavenger Hunt around the school.

Herrmann also encourages the students to get in on the costume action. "I like the dress-up days because they're out of the ordinary, they're fun, and it gets the students more involved and interested in the activity and the class, in general," he said.

- Alexis Lacman, Cardinal Gibbons

Math teachers always try to show their students that math can really be useful in life.

Mr. Kevin Dibert, a devoted geometry and calculus teacher at University School of NSU, took this philosophy to the next level by participating first-hand in the math concepts that go into building a house.

What convinced a South Florida teacher to become a volunteer construction man?

"I was asking myself that question my first day on the job as I was hammering over my head getting a sore wrist putting up trusses," he said.

In August 2004, Dibert took a year off teaching and worked for Disaster Response Emergency Services, an organization that rebuilds houses for families in need. People who lost all hope were given a second chance as Dibert and other volunteers cleared the rubble and gave the families a new home.

One family in Nebraska lost their house in a tornado and, because the insurance paid for their house fire two years prior, the family of seven was in desperate need of help.

"I grew very close to the family while I was there and still consider them good friends," Dibert said.

Now that he is back at University School, his math experiences inspire students to learn geometric concepts, in case they find themselves someday rebuilding from the ground up.

- Nadia Abramson, University School of NSU