Students dub South Jersey Teacher the "World's Strongest Teacher"
Briefly

Bob Merkh, a 41-year-old 7th-grade social studies teacher, is also a world-class powerlifter, holding one of the top totals in history for squats, benches, and deadlifts. He began powerlifting as a hobby, recognizing his potential for professional competition as his performance improved. Besides powerlifting, teaching is Merkh's primary passion, where he inspires students to appreciate history. He takes an active role in the community, leading the Special Olympics Powerlifting team and co-founding the organization 'We Belong' to support the LGBTQ+ community. He emphasizes that the discipline needed in powerlifting is similar to that in teaching.
Bob Merkh has a best squat of 1165 lbs., a best bench of 1100 lbs., and a best deadlift of 805 lbs., ranking #4 all-time in the world.
Merkh views his role as a teacher as vital, emphasizing that discipline in powerlifting parallels the discipline needed for effective teaching.
He plays a pivotal role in the community, leading the Special Olympics Powerlifting team and co-founding 'We Belong', an organization supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Merkh encourages his students to find joy in history and emphasizes the importance of discipline, stating, 'How you do anything is how you do everything.'
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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