A new, eager face stands in Room 91 as the morning bell finally rings, kicking off the beginning of the school day. He awaits his new students with an introduction ready and prepared as people begin to crowd the halls and pile into his classroom. Moments later, the bell rings once again, commanding bright-eyed, talkative students to scramble for a seat, marking the beginning of the new year. 

John Hubbard is a new world geography and world history teacher at Texas High, although the district itself is nothing new to the teacher. 

“I was working for the district, floating around in elementary schools, then I wanted to teach at Texas High because world history, and especially world geography, are what I did my studies in,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard found interest in geography during his schooling and was interested in how it affected the world and issues connected to the world’s past on a day-to-day basis. 

“I was interested in geography and geopolitics and particularly how inequalities happen, especially in cases of migration,” Hubbard said. “How [it] affects inequalities in gender [and] how it affects violence. I thought it was an area of the world that I could perhaps make a difference, perhaps help people.”

During the first few weeks of school, Hubbard has been able to meet many different students in his class and has seen many similarities between other students he has previously taught. 

“I’ve taught at high schools, several other places before and universities. The students here are a similar variety as they are in other places,” Hubbard said. “[Some students are] very attuned and sensitive to care [about class] and there are students who care less.”

The effects his class has on his students who are yearning to learn are easily seen because more students are involved in the subject and class discussions. Hubbard’s impact on his students are even extending to outside the campus.

“I had a moment today where several students said, ‘Hey, last night at dinner we were talking with Mom or Dad about what we talked about in class today. We had a nice discussion,’” Hubbard said. 

With his interest in geography and geopolitics, and the involvement of his students, Hubbard feels excitement for teaching his course for this year and how it will turn out.  

“The world geography class I’m teaching is a new class they offer or is being offered in a different way,” Hubbard said. “[I’m] looking forward to seeing how that works out and seeing how that class can really develop into something special.”