by Sven Stumbauer
Christoper Columbus High School has a laundry list of history teachers who have cemented their names as legends on campus and amongst the greater community of Westchester. From Dr. Burrus to Mr. Lynskey and O'Brien, several esteemed Explorers have cultivated their prestige at CCHS by teaching about the past and how it has shaped the present.
However, despite the bar being set astronomically high by previous teachers before him, Mr. Javier Hermida, the current Head of Columbus' Social Studies Department and AP United States History teacher, is on his own track to become forever etched in Columbus lore as one of the school's legendary history teachers, and it all started as a student in the very halls he'd end up teaching in.
Columbus Life
As a student at Columbus, Mr. Hermida's experience vastly differed from the one that most Explorers have had over the past 10 years.
"There were no cell phones or social media. When I compare it to the kids today, I feel like there was a lot less pressure in some senses. Walking between classes was a bit of a circus since we had to get creative in entertaining ourselves." Hermida said.
During his time as a student, however, Hermida admitted to not being as focused as he should have been.
"I wasn't an athlete, I wasn't an AP kid. There was no Mas Program, but if there was, I wouldn't have been in it. I struggled with grades and focusing in class. I was just trying to figure out life. I was a 7:45 to 2:15 kid; I came into school and left as quickly as possible. The only possible thing on my mind at times was 'Do I have a date this weekend?'" he said.
That notion was largely present throughout his first two years of high school. But there was one subject where that struggle was never present: History.
 "As a kid I always had deep questions such as 'why are things the way they are?'and I felt like you can't know that unless you look at the past to understand the present," Hermida said.
His desire to find answers and understand the "why" behind historical events was further nurtured by his family as a child and teenager.
"My interest in history was catalyzed by growing up and sitting at the dinner table listening to my dad and his friends talking about politics and history," he said.
Additionally, Hermida credits his teachers both in and outside of Columbus for kindling his love for the subject even further and sowing the initial seeds that would sprout into his decision to pursue teaching.
"I had a very good and inspiring Civics teacher in middle school, and since then, I thought of teaching. Then, I had legendary teachers like Mr. Lynskey who made the day look easy. Getting to school by 8 and leaving at 3 felt like a perilous journey for a high school student, and he just made the day look like a breeze. Once again, I thought 'maybe I should get into education and become a teacher,'" Hermida said.
During his time as an upperclassman, though, Hermida's outlook on how he carried himself as a student would change for the better, and it would persist through his junior and senior years of high school and beyond.
"At that point (junior year), I realized I needed to get into college and I put things into gear. So I worked hard and I started doing well in school." Hermida added.
College and Early Teaching Days
Although Hermida had thoughts of becoming a teacher, they were initially cast to the side as he pursued ways to make a livelihood during his time in college
"When I graduated from high school, the first thought was that I gotta make money, so I explored a couple of majors, particularly business," he stated
Throughout his four years of college, Hermida would end up working various jobs, but ultimately, he wouldn't feel that much enjoyment clocking in and out of them.
"I worked at a freight forwarding company and I did sales and I wasn't really happy doing those things. Doing an 8 to 5 and going to school was tough and on top of that, the jobs I was doing just weren't fun for me," Hermida elaborated.
While those experiences caused his desire to educate to reemerge, Hermida still remained somewhat skeptical.
"I was still questioning whether I should become a teacher. As I continued college, I started majoring in International Relations and History. I did those thinking I'd work in the State Department or the Government."
However, as fate would have it, he ended up in a classroom; this time, not as a student, but as an educator.
"Life just pushed me into a position where I found a job as a teaching assistant at Archimedean Academy. It payed well, and it got me through my junior and senior year of college."
Although he is now known for giving lessons on the likes of George Washington and westward expansion, he initially explored a different subject to teach.
"I can't say that I was 100% sold on history. I was actually thinking about exploring math, so I spent two semesters as a math major. But, as I got into it, teaching math bell to bell just wasn't for me," Hermida said.
On a similar note, Hermida would continue spending time teaching after getting his college diploma, as he had a job lined up as a substitute teacher. This ultimately led to him getting a job offer as a full-time teacher.
"I entertained the idea to do one year of teaching and then I'd do something in government and politics."
Despite that deal he made with himself, once he realized what his job as a teacher would entail, the rest was, for lack of a better term, "history."
"My first planning period where I sat down and I realized my job was to open a history book, read it, and then plan a lesson, that's it, I was sold. I knew I wanted to do it a second year, and then two turned to three, three turned to six, six turned to 12, and now we're here at year 15," Hermida exclaimed.
Back in the C Once more
Hermida's time teaching would lead him back to his Alma Mater, Christopher Columbus High School, and it would serve as a demonstration of the school's proudly professed brotherhood.
"When I came back to Columbus, it was just open arms. It didn't feel like I left at all," Hermida said.
Over time, he would become head of the school's Social Studies Department, and faces a few challenges but with good humor.
"My biggest challenge is probably troubleshooting all of Mr. O'Brien's tech issues," Hermida said jokingly.
Regardless, Hermida loves leading the school's Social Studies Department, and he believes that the department and its teachers are a community where educators can learn from one another
"We have the best teachers. I'm essentially a liaison for them. I don't necessarily need to lead, I just need to facilitate their desires. The department is just full of great minds such as Mr. Benitez, who is our resident Samuel Adams. We have teachers willing to take the iniative like Mr. Cody McKeon who stepped up to moderate Rho Kappa, the National Social Studies Honors Society. We have guys like Mr. Landera who's willing to teach any elective thrown at him. Guys like Mr. Pino and Mr. Kumer inspire me to prepare AP lessons and crush pass rates. It's more of the teachers inspiring me and it gave me a window into the ways that other teachers teach. I think everyone should be department head at one point so they can see how other educators do their business."
Hermida's positive feelings towards his peers in the Social Studies Department are mutually reciprocated. As a colleague, Castaway, and Class of 2000 alumnus, Mr. Pino has massive admiration for Mr. Hermida.
"Besides being a great friend of mine, he has also been a great mentor. Although we are from the same generation, his willingness to take the lead for the Social Studies Department has been a great example to me. The way that me, Mr. Kumer, and him collaborate often on AP skills, particularly writing, is invaluable to me as a teacher," Mr. Pino stated.
A Castaway Against Cancer
Hermida isn't just known for his activity in the classroom. He is also a valued member of Columbus' well-known nonprofit group, the Castaways Against Cancer. Notably, he was an avid admirer of the group and its ventures and had a goal in mind to become part of the group.
"The one sure thing I knew I wanted to join when I became a teacher at Columbus was the Castaways Against Cancer. I remember O.B. (Mr. O'brien) as a legendary paddler when I was a student. The legends and the folklore of these teachers in the summer kayaking from island to island was something we all thought was amazing," Hermida said.
That led him to join the group with his characteristic fervor and determination, but little did he know that the world would shut down as he was trying to become a member.
"Quickly, I networked, talked, and went on paddling trips with them, and then all of a sudden, COVID hit and those connections were lost," he commented.
However, he didn't let that discourage him as during the pandemic, he would ultimately find a new passion and way for the Castaways to further their cause.
"In the midst of COVID, I got into cycling and I reached out to Mr. Pino and I told him that I was considering riding my bike to Key West without any experience. He created a funding page platform for me, and I raised 150 dollars."
Hermida would keep his promise to Mr. Pino and started his solo bike ride from Miami to Key West, taking less than a day to accomplish.
"When I showed up at Key West, O.B. was shocked that I even made it down there. Everything was closed, and I didn't get to meet any of the Castaways that day, so I ended up at a Five Guy's or Fuddruckers, I ate some burgers, sipped on some sprite, and went home the same day after riding 170 miles," he said.
That initial bike ride would lay the groundwork for the Castaways cycling department, which is now a staple of their annual tours.
"The next year, we set up a real team, had 12 guys raise 28,000 and this is now the fifth year of the Castaways having a cycling team," Hermida said.
As a Castaway, Mr. Hermida has continued to make his name known amongst the greater Columbus community, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund cancer research, and has truly been a noteworthy member in such a short amount of time.
"He has raised over 150,000 dollars over the past three years, and his ability to put himself out there without knowing the full results early on, is an inspiration for me," Pino said.
Geography Club
In addition to the Castaways, Hermida is also involved with Columbus' Geography Club, serving as the club's moderator. However, his journey with the club started in a fairly unlikely fashion.
"My journey with the Geography Club started because I was teaching in Mr. Cunningham's classroom when I was a traveling teacher without my own room, and he wanted an assistant for the geography team. So I offered and I started out by bussing the team around."
His position as an assistant turned into heightened involvement as he saw the passion in one particular student to pursue his geographic dreams.
"Marcel Van Hemert, Class of 2020, was so gung-ho about it, so I helped facilitate his focus on geography. After he graduated and Cunningham retired, I got a group of new guys that wanted to carry on the geography club, so I facilitated their dreams too," Hermida continued.
When looking back on it, Hermida gives another reason why he continued with the club for so long: a reason beyond involvement alone.
"It was something that I saw the students were passionate about, so I helped them in pursuing it, and made sure there was a space for those kids' motivations."
Through the Geography Club, Mr. Hermida has continued to make a positive impact in the lives of young Explorers and has set a precedent that his impact is present both in and outside the classroom.
Columbus Students, Alumni, Administration and Legends Love Mr. Hermida
To say that Mr. Hermida is loved amongst members of the Columbus community would be a massive understatement.
Senior Matthew Moreno, who is the President of Columbus' Pre-Law Club and the Brother Edmund Sheehan Chapter of the National Honors Society, was particularly moved by Hermida's ability to make his AP United States History class one where everyone can participate
"Hermida always did a great job of looking out for the students who needed help the most. He always kept them very engaged and had that unique ability to do so," Moreno noted.
This sentiment is also shared by Class of 2023 Alumnus Alan Munschy, a current sophomore at Cornell University and Valedictorian of his graduating class.
"Mr. Hermida made APUSH (AP United States History) fun and accessible for everyone in the classroom," Munschy commented.
Additionally, students such as senior Tyler Campos, who is president and founder of the Learn Mas Club, were quick to note his dedication and enjoyment of being an educator
"He's a great teacher who clearly loves his job and everything about it," Campos stated.
The aforementioned quality was also recognized by Patriot Club President and Model UN Vice President Benjamin Pagliery, who also notes his selflessness and positivity
"Mr. Hermida is one of the most dedicated teachers when it comes to the development of his students. He prioritizes the genuine growth of our young men and truly embodies the spirit of a Columbus educator. When I was left without a moderator for my club, he stood up and took on the responsibility on top of his normal work load, which would have been sufficient for two teachers. Despite his incredible responsibilities, he always started class with a smile and the occasional incense if he was feeling daring. We all knew that we were in for a memorable period when he started off by saying 'Should we light one up?'" Pagliery mentioned.
Moreover, students are big fans of his more casual nature which makes history accessible for the large amount of students that take the class in their junior year. Senior Andrew Pena says that his easygoing attitude in the classroom is what makes him great.
"I'd definitely say that he's a great teacher because his teaching style is more laid back. He's able to teach in such a way that most people can understand the lesson. He's able to balance going fairly easy on his students whilst managing to teach them effectively," Pena wrote.
Another way that Hermida is seen so positively amongst students is his ability to foster discussion amongst his students. Notre Dame freshman and former Debate President James Sacher notes how his teaching style has helped him in college so far.
"Mr. Hermida was a really good teacher. He prioritized in-class discussion and that skill has helped me a lot in my classes now where all my history courses are discussion based. I feel very well prepared to participate in classes here at Notre Dame and Mr. Hermida was a big part of that," Sacher wrote.
Other Columbus alumni are also quick to comment on his ability to be a facilitator of multiple facets of school and family life. As Martin Seals, Helmsman of the Class of 2024 and a current freshman at Morehouse College said:
"Mr. Hermida is a true Columbus guy. His relaxed and engaging teaching style made made APUSH one of my favorite classes in high school. Hermida always makes the concerted effort to tap into Columbus culture during events like Walkathon, which led to me playing my first game of 'Coco Swing' (Linfors approved!). Additionally, every trip I have ever taken with hermida has been a move-worthy adventure. Whether it was a road trip to the University of Florida for a Model UN conference or the Close Up trip to Washington, D.C., Hermida makes every trip a blast. Last but not least, his long involvement in the Castaways is the cherry on top and shows that you can make an impact, work hard, and have great fun with friends and family," Seals said.
When asked to comment on Mr. Hermida, University of Florida freshman, Benacquisto Scholar, National Merit Scholarship Finalist, former President of Geography Club and Model UN, and Class of 2024 alumnus Gonzalo Palenzuela laid out a litany of praise
"I mean where do I begin? He's one of those teachers that encourages you, that helps you with your goals and dreams, and he makes you feel like a friend. Not only was he a great teacher that helped me pass an AP exam, but he was a mentor that helped me get through the hardest parts of high school. He's one of those Columbus teachers that are more than that, he's a Columbus legend who I'll ask future generations whether they had him and laugh at the good times I had in his class." Palenzuela wrote.
Alongside students, Columbus' administration is well aware of Hermida's efforts to be the best educator he possibly can be. The school's principal, Mr. Pugh, had many praises for him.
"He is a true Marist educator and a leader and a guide for young men. He sacrifices his time and energy for his students and is respected by students and teachers alike. He is disciplined, compassionate and empathetic to the needs of his students, and there is nothing he won't do for his school community," Pugh said.
The positive reception of Mr. Hermida is also shared by Columbus history teachers, colleagues, and legends. In particular, Mr. O'Brien is very optimistic about a CCHS that has him at the helm of the Social Studies Department.
"He's the pinnacle of a professional educator. Quite frankly, he's an old soul, and I know that Columbus will be in good hands with this younger generation of history teachers," O'brien said.
In addition to O.B., Mr. Lynskey, a member of the Class of 1978, a legendary history teacher who had previously taught Hermida, and Ambassador of Alumni Affairs, is proud of Hermida's journey to teaching in his former classroom and becoming the head of the Social Studies Department like he was.
"When I think of Mr. Hermida, I'm taken back to the time when he was a student in A22 and how attentive and focused he was, and how much he enjoyed history. To me personally, it's very rewarding and gratifying to see him excelling as department leader in A22 where we met all those years ago," Lynskey said.
Overall, Mr. Hermida is known as a phenomenal teacher, colleague, moderator and friend. His story is still playing out within the halls of Christopher Columbus High School and he is certainly one of Columbus' many teachers who defines students' experiences and helps them pursue their passions within the school's walls and beyond.
Great article on a great man.