Source: Union Public Schools
Environmental science teacher Aryn Hardman was named a Teacher of the Year for Union High School.
“The most important thing I do as a teacher is to provide meaningful opportunities for my students to explore and engage with the natural world” Hardman said.
“I strive to spark their curiosity about how things really work in the environment and foster a sense of responsibility for its preservation. By establishing an Oklahoma Native Prairie on campus, I’ve created a living classroom where students can experience firsthand the dynamics of our local ecosystem.”
Each spring, she organizes a ‘Sustainability Fair,’ connecting students with local organizations to learn about conservation and sustainable practices. This year, she is expanding the prairie with a focus on native pollinators, reinforcing the crucial role biodiversity plays in the community and beyond. Through these initiatives, she aims to inspire students to become lifelong stewards of the environment.
“It is no secret that being a teacher in Oklahoma is a tough job, but I haven’t let that stop me,” she says. “Honestly, I never expected it to be easy. My main motivation is my personal belief that every single student deserves a teacher who truly cares about them. Knowing that there will be students in my class that don’t always have a person to care keeps me showing up.”
Hardman began teaching in 2015 and found her home at Union in 2021. She graduated in 2015 from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor of Science Education degree with an emphasis in biology and she is certified to teach Life Sciences by the State of Oklahoma.
The District Teacher of The Year will be announced during a planned professional development and celebration on Friday at the Union Performing Arts Center.
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