BALDWIN — Stepping into the classroom of B. Edward Boudreaux Middle School teacher Stephen Schmidt, one might find wild stories of Jean Lafitte or Marie Laveau, or witness students playing games and role-playing as a way of taking in Louisiana history. 

One thing you won’t find upon entering Schmidt’s classroom — a textbook.

In Schmidt’s class, textbooks exist purely for reference and the key to his students’ learning is with “the hook.”

(Use arrows above to view more photos) Advertisement

“I’m definitely unconventional,” said Schmidt, an eighth grade social studies teacher from Kansas City, Kan. “The classes are very activity-based. I trick them into learning ... I’m a master of manipulation.”

The white board in Schmidt’s classroom is not filled with history notes, but instead holds index cards with significant dates tacked onto it.

The students in Schmidt’s class race to the white board — “Survivor” style — to see who can first remember the significance of dates like 1492 and 1776.

Schmidt has been teaching at B. Edward Boudreaux for three years, but his work with children dates back many years, starting as a white water rafting and backpacking guide for the Boy Scouts in Colorado.

He spent his summers taking Boy Scouts on white water rafting, backpacking and rock climbing trips, then spent his winters as a snowboarding instructor.

“I think I learned a lot about teaching from that experience because I would have to train them, and my life kind of depended on them learning those skills very quickly,” he said.

After an accident left Schmidt with a shattered elbow and unable to continue his outdoor activities, he decided to attend college at Kansas State Univer-sity.

While in college, the university asked Schmidt to join a group of students in traveling to the Middle East for international community service work. Schmidt spent four months teaching English as a Second Language and doing agricultural work for social service centers set up throughout Jordan and the West Bank.

“I think I was chosen because they knew I was the type of person who could sleep in a ditch in my sleeping bag and I wouldn’t complain,” he said.

Kansas State University is where he met his wife, who he accompanied to Louisiana when she got a teaching job in St. Mary Parish in 2000. But the couple detoured a bit during their journey from Kansas to Louisiana, hitchhiking through Mexico before deciding on a home here.

Schmidt finished his bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2005, working on sugar cane farms in St. Mary Parish while completing his studies.

“When we were on the farm, everyone out there said I needed to be teaching — because I bored them so much,” he said. “I love teaching. I get paid to have a lot of fun.”

Ask students about his class, and “fun” is a word that echoes often when referencing their experience in Schmidt’s classroom.

“He’s different than other teachers,” said eighth grade student Kevin Smith, 15. “He makes it easy. He’s cool in all kinds of ways.”

Darien Dwier, a 14-year-old eighth grader, said Schmidt teaches the students about a variety of topics, not just social studies.

“The other teachers don’t act like Mr. Schmidt,” said Jalicia Broussard, 16. “He tells it like it is, doesn’t beat around the bush. But he likes helping people, too.”

When Schmidt is not busy “corrupting the youth” through eighth grade social studies, he spends much of his time coaching the B. Edward Boudreaux Middle School Chess Team.

The team has grown exponentially since its inception three years ago, Schmidt said, with 30 to 40 students on the team who placed third in the state last year.

“He inspires the students, really motivates them,” said B. Edward Boudreaux Principal Naomi Harding. “He goes out of his way to work with the students, so much so that seventh grade students are excited about going to his class in eighth grade.”

Schmidt, an Eagle Scout, also serves as scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts Evangeline Area Council Troop No. 1, the troop that holds the original charter for the Evangeline Council. The group is highly active, and Schmidt spends many weekends on scout outings around the state.

“I don’t think there’s any organization that better prepares young men for being good civic participants,” Schmidt said. “To advance in the ranks, you have to participate in community service. I think people look at (Boy Scouts) as being sort of antiquated now, but I think it’s a really good thing for young boys to chant once a week about being trustworthy and loyal. I think a lot of the old-time stuff is what kids crave.”