Shaeffer seems like the kind of guy who would make a fun high school English teacher — which, in fact, is what he is. The 44-year-old Fairbanksan teaches at West Valley High School, an ideal spot to meld his love of learning, language and pop culture. In recent years, his role as an educator has complemented a prominent place in the arts community. FDA Executive Director Peggy Ferguson said Shaeffer's experience as a teacher and natural comic timing have allowed him to excel as a director. Shaeffer started his career as a radio DJ in Brookings, South Dakota, hosting '80s pop and alternative rock shows for a pair of local stations. After he returned to college to earn his teaching certificate and spent a few years working in South Dakota, Shaeffer went to a job fair from the Northwest Arctic Borough School District almost on a whim.