By Trina Walker
In the ten years of Aryn Hardman’s teaching career, she has learned patience, flexibility and creativity from her students. Hardman teaches AP Environmental Science and On-level Environmental Science at Union High School.
“My students remind me that every day is a new opportunity to grow and that learning works best when we meet each other with curiosity and kindness,” Hardman said.
She enjoys the energy, discipline and teamwork student-athletes bring to the classroom. Balancing practices, games, travel and schoolwork takes resilience and determination.
“Participating in school sports provides many students with the encouragement to stay connected and graduate. They also need to understand that they are leaders both on and off the field,” said Hardman. “Representing the school means showing respect, maintaining integrity and modeling the values of hard work and character to their peers. They should exemplify the Union Way!”
The most difficult part of being a teacher is balancing the responsibilities while continuing to give each student the attention they deserve. The rewards, however, outweigh the difficulties.
“The most rewarding part is seeing students connect with material in meaningful ways and watching them achieve things they didn’t think they could. When I see a student experience that light bulb moment, it literally makes my day,” said Hardman. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that I play a small part in preparing my students to be amazing stewards of the planet as adults. Their growth, curiosity and potential keep me inspired every single day.”
Hardman’s goal is to create a classroom where students feel confident asking questions, working collaboratively and thinking critically about the world around them.
“I also need them to feel safe to mess up. We earn more from our mistakes than from our successes! I want them to leave my class with both content knowledge and the skills to be problem-solvers in whatever future they have ahead of them,” she says.
A supportive family helps Hardman maintain the energy teaching requires.
“They are patient and supportive and I wouldn’t possibly be able to achieve the things I do without them!” she says.
Hardman is the first classroom teacher to serve on the board for the Oklahoma Association of Environmental Educators, received the Green Project of the Year from the Tulsa Metropolitan Trust in 2023 and won the spring Sustainability Fair with team teacher, Emily Hallford. A career highlight was being named Teacher of the Year for Union High School.
