Teacher Of The Year Spotlight: Freshman Academy – Richard Hackler

Posted Date: 01/26/2023

Math teacher Richard Hackler was named the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year at the Union High school Freshman Academy.

“I started working for Union Public Schools in January of 2014 for the Carrera Program. It was from that experience that I became a teacher and started teaching in the 2019-2020 school year,” Hackler said.

“I continue to work as a teacher in Oklahoma because this is my home, and it is where my friends and family live. Also, it allows me to work for one of the best school districts in the nation so there is no need to go anywhere else,” he said.

Hackler pointed out, “My favorite classroom activity is any activity that allows the students to collaborate and have fun while interacting with the content. They are teaching each other, and it allows me the time to move around the room and assist as needed.”

He said, “I have a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in psychology with minors in business and sociology. I have my teaching certifications in intermediate mathematics and English as a second language. I also have completed coursework from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., and Concordia University Wisconsin. I completed my alternative teacher certification classes at Southern Nazarene University. Recently, I completed training in the ‘Modern Classroom’ approach.”

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The District Teacher of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, February 21. Being named Teacher of the Year is one of the highest honors a teacher can receive at Union.