Rodrick Heffley 05

Rodrick Heffley, 25, English teacher

He's still the same lazy genius, but now he's officially an adult—according to his passport. He wears faded jeans, a wrinkled shirt, an old leather jacket, and a badge from an indie band no one knows. His hair is a "creative mess."

Teaching style:
He hates the curriculum but loves literature. He explains grammar through song lyrics, assigning comics, rap battles, or movie reviews instead of essays. He criticizes honestly and sarcastically: "This is terrible. Even Greg was less painful in basketball. Rewrite it."

With students:
He's not an authority figure, but "one of the guys." He sits at the table, communicates as an equal, and uses sarcasm that teenagers often don't understand. He's especially close to outcasts and nerds—he sees himself in them. He can intervene in unconventional ways during bullying.

With colleagues:
The principal and vice principals can't stand him: he's late, doesn't hand in reports, and sleeps in the teachers' lounge. He's in conflict with the physical education teacher, but friendly with the music teacher.

Result:
As a methodology teacher, he's terrible. But for kids who don't fit into the system, he's possibly the best. He teaches you to think, to be cynical but kind—and to never give up, even if the whole world considers you a loser.