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Do you know why you should never trust an atom? Because they make up everything! 

Do you know why science teachers wear sunglasses when they are in their classrooms? Because their students are so bright that they gotta wear shades! 

Do you know why the ocean is salty? Because their islands won’t wave back! 

Welcome to the class of Cedar Hill High School Physics Teacher Bobby Soehnge, who isn’t leaving his day job for a comedy special anytime soon.

Physics, not surprisingly, is often a humorless subject, but Soehnge decided to partially rectify that when he joined the Cedar Hill High School faculty 14 years ago.

Since his first day in the classroom in August 2012, Soehnge always starts class off with “A Joke Of The Day.”

He comes up with some of them on his own. Others are from colleagues or students. In a pinch, he’ll Google some good ideas. If it’s one he likes, there’s a good chance students will hear it repeated across numerous school years.

“I enjoy it, and the students enjoy it,” Soehnge said. “The 16 and 17 year olds by definition have a sort of ‘there’s nothing cool’ attitude. If I lean into that by telling dad jokes, it helps me get past that wall. Look, I’m not cool. I know I’m not that funny, but come on now, work with me here. And most of them will. Aside from the cell phones, kids haven’t changed that much over the years.”

Soehnge knows that Physics can be a challenging subject, so he makes sure that labs are a regular part of the course. He also starts by encouraging the students to have a positive, can-do outlook.

“The students can see the physical manifestation of whatever we’re dealing with through labs,” Soehnge said. “Everything we do as a test is stated math problems, which are everyone’s least favorite math problems. If the students think they can do it, they will. It’s an important part of my job to get them to actually think they can do it.”

Born in Fort Worth and raised in Lubbock, Soehnge earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Kennesaw State University, near Atlanta.

When he was nearing 50 years old in the early 2010s, Soehnge took a leap of faith, leaving his corporate job as a software consultant for a new challenge of becoming an educator.

“The things I thought would be cool about teaching turned out to be very cool,” Soehnge said. “I enjoy working with the kids. It’s especially rewarding when they understand something that they started out not understanding. I want to do this as long as I can. It’s a wonderful way to be of service and to feel useful. Teaching is a privilege. It is an honor that parents trust me every day with their children. And it is an accomplishment if I can get the kids to trust me with their hearts and minds. There is no job anywhere that is more of a sacred trust.”

 

Soehnge remembers leaning on the insights and expertise of longtime educators when he first arrived at CHHS. Now, it’s not uncommon for new teachers to seek his advice and opinions.

Outside the classroom, he can be found at athletic and fine arts events and coordinated weekend SAT/ACT testing, thanks to a motto he holds dear – “help when you can, where you can.”

While some colleagues have left for other districts or professions, Soehnge cites the strong relationship between parents and educators as the reason why he’s stayed in Cedar Hill for the better part of a decade and a half.

“I really like Cedar Hill,” Soehnge said. “I  have found the parents to be consistently supportive. When I talk to parents, I establish that I’m on their side and their kid’s side. The reason for our discussion is to help their child become successful. Parents respond really well to that, and they work with me. That’s a good feeling.”