Science teacher Frank Consolino is known to students and staff as the TikTok teacher. With over 1,000 followers on his account, Consolino strives to be like the Conan O’Brien of the popular app. “Students wanted to get me on the app, so I finally broke down and said sure I’ll make an account,” he said.

What do your friends and family think of your account?
They think I’m crazy and weird. They like showing it off to other people that they know so they can all laugh at it. They aren’t embarrassed of [the account], not yet at least. It’s a shocker.

What do you think your reputation as a teacher is portrayed as to others?
I would say I’m the cool teacher, but in reality, I’m probably the cool teacher that people make fun of because he does weird things. I’m just the TikTok teacher, that’s what I am.

How has being described as the “cool teacher” made it easier to teach?
It’s made it easier to build relationships with students. They have fun approaching me and talking to me and asking for help rather than if they were scared of [me].

How has COVID-19 impacted your teaching?
It’s definitely been different to transition and to adjust and to keep up with all the new guidelines. I’ve tried not to let it affect me too much. From a teaching standpoint, it just adds one extra layer of reminders to the students with the changing of seating charts and of being more careful with everything that you do to limit the amount of contact people have.

How has COVID-19 impacted you personally?
Personally, it hasn’t done much. I still try to do the things I normally do but just with the added precautions like wearing a mask. I still try to do the same things I would do and hang out and see friends. I try not to let it affect me to the best of my ability.