Welcome to Class
I started The Paternal Professor because I wanted to reach beyond my own classroom. After years of teaching, I’ve seen that true college readiness isn’t just about grades or test scores — it’s about communication, perseverance, and respect. When students learn to speak up, work hard, and value the people around them, they don’t just prepare for college — they prepare for life.
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This platform is my way of sharing what works. It’s built to help students become confident learners, to help parents understand how to support that growth, and to help educators strengthen the bridge between high school and higher education.
About R.D. Anderson
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I’m R.D. Anderson — teacher, dad, and author of Highly Recommended: A High School Success Guide for Parents and Students and The High School Success Journal. After teaching students from middle school through graduate school, I’ve seen how much confidence and strong relationships matter in shaping not just grades, but futures.
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I wrote these books with one goal in mind: to help students succeed in high school and beyond by giving them tools that build character, confidence, and lasting connections with teachers and mentors. This work is deeply personal to me — both as an educator and as a parent of two teenage daughters.
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The purpose of this website is simple: to make these resources accessible to families and schools, and to give students a place to share their stories of successes, triumphs, and even struggles. When students and parents reflect honestly on their journeys, it creates powerful conversations that strengthen learning and relationships.
Whether you’re a student looking to grow and take ownership of your high school experience, a parent looking to guide the process, or an educator hoping to build rapport or build better working relationships with your students, I believe these tools can make a lasting difference.