The baseball cap has been hung up for good. Former English III teacher Robert Sherman resigned over the summer break after 14 years at CHS.

“The Class of 2016 was a great group to go out with,” Sherman said. “I wish them all the best.”

Former U.S. History II teacher Ronald Klein, who retired at the end of the 2014-15 school year, was Sherman’s close colleague. Klein said Sherman “felt it was time” to resign.

“Very few know last spring Cornell University invited him to their school for two days to honor him as one of the nation’s Outstanding Educators,” Klein said. “He told me that was the highlight of his career and was truly a great way to go out.”

Sherman’s resignation came shortly after Klein’s retirement, but both said the timing of their departures wasn’t connected. Sherman said the two friends will stay in contact.

“Maybe we’ll stop by graduation this year,” Sherman said.

Senior Johnny Callaghan of Wall was a student in Sherman’s English class last year and said he wasn’t affect by Sherman’s resignation.

“I already went through his class, but if I hadn’t, I would have been relieved after he left because he was one of the more difficult teachers at CHS,” Callaghan said.

Senior Lauryn Masciana agreed that Sherman’s class was difficult but added that its intensity lended to extra studying and boosted her SAT score about 130 points.

“His stories were always so fun, and he loved to have in-depth discussions that really helped to analyze the literature we read while entertaining the class,” Masciana said.

Although the underclassmen never had Sherman in class, junior Jack Mannion of Belmar and sophomore Brandon Kalika of Middletown said they passed Sherman every day and noticed his backwards cap and daily greetings from the doorway of his classroom.

Mannion said he had been looking forward to having Sherman as a teacher.

“I know that he seemed cool, saying ‘hi’ to all of his students in the morning,” Mannion said.

Kalika agreed.

“I never really knew Mr. Sherman, but I always saw him in the halls, and he always had a bright smile. He looked like a really fun teacher, so I’m kind of bummed I’m not having him. He seems like an interesting guy,” Kalika said.

Former English II teacher Kelly Lang will now teach English III.

“It’s the end of an era,” Sherman said.

Matt Miller contributed to this article.