Mr. Hannum is our school’s brand new special education teacher. At school, he teaches numerous subjects ranging from english to life science to consumer math, which teaches his students how to use math in everyday life. “I always get that question. Like what is consumer math? Well, I try to teach my students how to apply mathematical skills for scenarios that might pop up in their daily lives, so I teach them how to balance grocery budgets, do their taxes, and manage credit cards. It’s really a class that I wish I could have taken while I was in high school and something that really benefits my students as they move into college and adulthood.”
Teaching was something that was always in Mr. Hannum’s mind since his youth. “My mom was a teacher, who later got promoted to a vice principal, and then a principal, and then the director of her school district so I got a first-hand view of how cool a career in education could be. In high school, I also got inspired by a bunch of my own high school teachers and I still talk to them even now. That’s one of the best things about high school: building those connections that last even as an adult. “
For Mr. Hannum, patience is the most important quality a teacher can have. “To me, patience is key. I have to understand how my students feel at all times and adjust how I teach in accordance with their needs. I really think it’s important to act as a support for my students because that’s what a lot of students need. High school is very stressful and everybody has a billion things to worry about, so just having a supportive figure on campus can make a world’s difference to students. I also think a big part of my teaching is just making sure my students have fun because if you’re already forced to show up to school, might as well make it a pleasant experience. That’s why I try my best to have hands-on interactions with my students so we make all the positive decorations around the classroom ourselves. I don’t want to toot my own horn but I’ve heard multiple students come up to me and say, ‘Your class is the most enjoyable class I’ve ever taken’.”
Mr. Hannum applies this philosophy of having fun whenever possible into his personal life. As the father of two children, he tries his best to keep them away from screens while still having an enjoyable and curiosity-filled childhood. “Parenting is always tricky at first because you don’t get that much sleep and it drives you insane. However, after a while, it becomes something you truly treasure. I’ve always wanted to be a dad so I try my best to spend as much quality time with my kids as I possibly can. We don’t have any IPads at home so I simulate my own childhood experiences, for example, building forts and castles out of cardboard boxes.”
Mr. Hannum is also an avid connoisseur of movies, a great appreciator of nature, and has also participated in numerous stand-up comedy shows. “My favorite movie of all time is the Big Lebowski, which drastically changed the way I view my life. It’s a movie with a cult following and there’s a Big Lebowski festival every year, which I’ve been to a few times before.”
