In Travis Redden’s world—and certainly in his classroom—teaching High School English isn’t simply about grammar, essays, or literary analysis—it’s about staying a student for life. Now in his ninth year at Vandalia, and his twentieth year in education, Redden has built a career around the belief that to teach well, one must never stop learning.

Redden teaches English 4 along with dual credit English 101 and 102, in partnership with Kaskaskia College. These courses give seniors the chance to earn six college credits before graduating, an opportunity that can set them a year or more ahead once they step onto a college campus. “English 101 is a little more creative,” he explained, where students find their voice across different kinds of writing. “English 102 is more research-focused, more about logical fallacies and informative writing.” The payoff, he said, is real: “Our kids graduate and they have a year and a half of college.”

It’s not just students who win. Redden sees the dual credit program as a victory for the faculty, for the college, and for the community. Vandalia’s unusually robust blend of AP and dual credit courses ensures nearly every student has access to college-level rigor. Even if some credits don’t transfer to highly selective universities, Redden emphasizes that the knowledge is always worth having. “I’ll get emails from students at college saying, ‘Tell Mr. Redden we’re working on logical fallacies,’ or, ‘We’re reading Macbeth.’ It’s nice to see it carry over.”

Redden knows the power of being first. A Benton native, he was the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree. He attended Rend Lake College before transferring to SIU Carbondale, where he graduated at 21 and began teaching almost immediately. “I was only a few years older than my seniors,” he laughed. He went on to teach in Johnston City, at an alternative school in St. Louis, and in Brownstown before settling in Vandalia. “I’m 41 now, but it’s been a fun ride.”

His love for teaching traces back to his own high school years, when coaches and teachers like Rod Shurtz and Matt Malkovich sparked his imagination. “I loved reading. I wanted to be like them,” he recalled. That desire turned into a conviction: teaching was not only a way to share books but also a way to remain a student forever. “If you’re going to do your job well, you always have to continue learning,” he said.

That belief has shaped his approach in the classroom. Redden encourages students to think beyond the curriculum, linking ancient texts to modern lives. Beowulf becomes a conversation about what it means to be heroic today. Shakespeare becomes a key to understanding relationships, even, he joked, to avoiding bad dates. “If you read enough, you start to discover who you are and who you’re looking for,” he said. Literature, for him, is never outdated—it’s a mirror.

He also understands his role in helping first-generation students, because he once was one. “I share my story with them,” Redden said. “Not everyone will grab onto it, but they need to find their own passion. That’s probably more important than me teaching them Beowulf.” With seniors preparing for scholarships and futures beyond Vandalia, he sees his job as equal parts guide and teacher.

Today, the challenge of teaching writing has been complicated by AI tools that can produce essays in seconds. Redden isn’t discouraged. Instead, he’s adapted. “I’m more focused on grading the process instead of the final piece,” he explained. Students now write regularly in composition notebooks, giving him a sense of their authentic voice. “I’d much rather they use the wrong word and learn from it than rely on AI.”

For Redden, English is more than a subject—it’s preparation for life. “Communication is central to everything,” he said. Whether his students choose college, trades, or the military, the ability to think clearly and express themselves will carry them forward. That, to him, is the heart of the humanities: teaching people to be human, to be kind, to find their place in society.

As he reflects on his career, Redden is still animated by the same joy he felt as a young reader. “I get to read books and talk about literature with kids—and I get paid for that,” he said with a smile. It’s a student’s dream, made into a teacher’s life.