Mr. Chad Hastings is the new social studies teacher at HHS, and he is eager to make history come alive for his students.
Hastings brings extraordinary experience from teaching at six different schools around the world. He deeply understands global cultures and also has a background as an English teacher.
Hastings saw a huge difference in our school then from his previous schools when observing last year.
“I actually came in and observed this school after I got hired last year and noticed that the behavior is just a little better,” Hastings said. “The students at Hancock just seem to have a really good work ethic and come to school excited or ready to learn.”
Some teachers haven’t even changed their subject and haven’t taught in another country; Hastings has done both.
“I taught in Shanghai, China for three months,” Hastings said. “Then I joined the Peace Corps and taught at a local high school in a village in Madagascar, and I worked as an online English teacher in Mexico and Brazil.”
Hastings having positive teaching experience in his past jobs doesn’t stop now, and you couldn’t agree more when you read what he has to say.
“Mr. Williams is a great leader, a great principal,” Hastings said. “I think he has a really positive mindset and I think it’s contagious and students and staff are picking up that positive mindset that he’s got.”
After teaching English to people across the globe he began teaching social studies in Oregon.
“Then I came back to the United States to teach at Grand Center Arts Academy as a social studies teacher as well.”
But Mr. Hastings’ journey around the world isn’t over; this coming summer, he’ll be traveling with fellow students from his previous school for a national student trip. Although he will not be the one coordinating it, he will be chaperoning it, proving that he has a hobby for traveling the world and opening students’ eyes to breathtaking places.
Just as busy as Mr. Hastings is in school, he is outside of school, imagine trying to handle two jobs and a sport.
“I play sports. I’m on a slow-pitch softball team, and I like to play many random sports like volleyball or backyard football or soccer with friends,” Hastings stated. “I work a second job as a restaurant server.”
