Kinnelon High School chemistry teacher Adam Smith knows the formula for being a good teacher. Mix the information students need to know with a little bit of fun and the result is students being more interested in the subject matter.

At least this is the formula he has been using in his seven years as a teacher in Kinnelon and prior to that when he taught at Glen Ridge and Wayne Hills high schools.

A 1997 Butler High School graduate, Smith's teaching skills have not only been recognized by students, but parents as well, as one parent, who wished to remain anonymous, recently nominated Smith as a "Teacher Who Rocks" on the local radio station WDHA FM. Each year, the radio station selects 24 teachers across the state to recognize at a banquet, according to the radio station's website. Smith is not the first Kinnelon school district employee to be honored, as last year, Kiel School Administrative Assistant Paula Kelly was also chosen.

Smith said he had an idea who may have nominated him as a parent had called him and told him to tune in to the radio broadcast to hear the nomination. While he only caught the end of the remarks, Smith said the nominator had kind words to say about him.

Tri-Boro Patch caught up with the nominating parent, who offered these words about Smith:

"I can't think of a more deserving teacher. Mr. Smith is truly dedicated to his chosen profession. In his classroom, he accepts all students and makes them feel comfortable. He is able to relate to the students in their terms and they enthusiastically respond and are eager to do well in his class. He inspires them to succeed, even meeting with them until he ensures that they understand the material. Because of his inspiration, some students have chosen to study chemistry in college."

The parent also mentioned a club Smith initiated at Kinnelon High School this year based on a sport popularized by the Harry Potter franchise. The Quidditch Club brings students-and eventually, Smith hopes, other members of the community as well-of all grade levels together on weekends for the outdoor game which Smith said "is kind of like rugby, basketball and dodgeball, and a game of tag all on the same field." Fourteen people can play one game, seven on each time, and five balls are used in the sport.

"The club has grown and the kids love it. This was started on his own time, without getting paid," the parent said. "In this economy, where there is a growing divide between teachers' unions and budgets, he is truly there for the kids."

Additionally, Smith donates his time to serve as the advisor to the high school's Anime Club and Science Club. Smith has also stepped up to help with the school band, playing the tuba at all high school concerts for the past several years since none of the students play tuba. He has been a tuba and trombone player for the past 15 years in his personal life.

Despite staying busy after school, Smith said he tries to create a fun experience in the classroom for the nearly 90 students in his five classes.

"I try to do as many labs and demonstrations as I can because if I can get them excited about the subject, they're going to learn it better and be a little more willing to work hard," he said.

An example of a demonstration Smith uses is one where he creates a sort of cannon out of a PVC pipe and shows combustion of rubbing alcohol with a foam ball that is launched from the cannon. He does other demonstrations, including flame tests which show students diferent colored flames based on chemical equations.

Smith said he does plan to attend the banquet hosted by the radio station and was happy to be nominated. He said it assured him that "somebody in the community respects me and thinks I'm doing a good job."