Science teacher Jared Monroe always starts off the school year by giving his new students a fair warning before they fall into their bad habits of falling asleep during class.

“Don’t fall asleep,” Monroe said. “You will not like it.”

In his six years of teaching at North Garland, Monroe has been very open with his students. He talks to them about his Tourette’s, a syndrome where the body has involuntary ticks, to make a connection with them. When some students hear this at the beginning of the year it goes in one ear and out the other, but Monroe has a remedy for their sleepy heads.

“I scare my students to keep them on their toes, and keep a light atmosphere in my classroom,” Monroe said.

Before becoming comfortable with teaching, Monroe relied on other experienced teachers advice and tried being hard and strict on his students. After the advice failed, Monroe let his goofy personality shine and saw his methods worked better for him than any other advice.

“I tried to be plain and dry at first,” Monroe said. “It wasn’t very helpful. I am who I am and it’s what works for me.”

Monroe has noticed that his students have become comfortable and used to his quirky tactics, and they don’t mind his ticks.

“They act like there’s absolutely nothing wrong with me,” Monroe said. “I’m always more comfortable in the classroom than out in public.”

Monroe said his scaring methods and fun side in school give him a sense of release and a huge amount of comfort in his classroom after dealing with uncomfortable looks in public.

“Monroe’s class is like a box of chocolates,” Monroe said. “You never know what you’re going to get.”