By Abbie Preston, Staff Reporter

World history teacher Aaron Lockard knew he wanted to be a history teacher ever since he was given the book “Lies My Teacher Told Me”. The book discusses the biases that are present in history curricula. After reading this novel, Lockard was inspired to bring  new perspectives to his history class. 

“You know, every history book has a bias, every history teacher has a bias, and I think that’s okay. I think it’s good to recognize and see that,” Lockard said. “For me it (the book) was influential in the sense that if I can accept that (bias), see that, and embrace it, then it might give me a better opportunity to engage with history itself and share my passion for history with other people in that way.”

A wrestler and football player in high school, Lockard has always enjoyed sports as a hobby. This mindset drove him to coach winter track and field, and become the head coach of the freshman football team at Conestoga.

“Returning as a coach instead of a player was like something I was really looking forward to,” Lockard said. “I think sharing that same passion with players is really enjoyable.”

Outside of school, Lockard likes to enjoy the great outdoors. He has especially enjoyed doing this after long days of staring at the screen. Some of his favorite outdoor activities include kayaking and hiking. He also loves to take his dog on walks around his neighborhood. 

“I just like being able to get away from screens and get away from papers, and engage with the world around me in a more meaningful way,” Lockard said. “I feel like going on hikes and kayaking is just like a nice easy way to do that.”

During quarantine, Lockard and his wife purchased a new house. He occupied his time by unpacking and arranging their belongings into his new space. He and his wife have spent lots of time in their new home, even constructing a new garden and bonfire pit.

“I think it’s been a blessing in disguise,” Lockard said. “I think sometimes we work really hard on our homes, just to leave and go to work forty, fifty, or sixty hours a week, and not spend as much time really enjoying the fruits of our labor.”

Being Lockard’s fifth year of teaching at Conestoga, he has created friendships with many of his fellow teachers around him. Lockard notes how his fellow teachers at Conestoga inspire him to try new, creative ideas.

“I think seeing their passion and seeing their creativity has always been influential,” said Lockard. “They push me to become a better teacher, so that’s inspiring in a sense.”

Lockard notes that even though frustrations such as grading and conflicts with students, the benefits far outweigh them.

“I think the biggest reason that I like about teaching is there’s benefits to building relationships with students, and seeing them grow. Especially because I teach freshmen, I like seeing them grow as like sophomores, juniors, seniors, and being able to see them walk across that graduation stage four years later after you got a chance to teach them,” Lockard said.