After the resignation of several science teachers, students were left without a teacher for weeks.

However, true Texan Michael Laprarie saved the day by joining the school faculty in October.

Q: Where are you from?

ML: Originally, I was born and raised in Texas. I grew up on the Gulf Coast, a little place called the Golden Triangle. I’m from a small town in there called Groves. I still consider myself a Texan, I’ve lived in Oklahoma for 25 years, but I still consider myself a Texan.

Q: What college did you attend?

ML: I graduated from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Q: What’s your major?

ML: I graduated with a bachelor’s in math and science, and I also have enough hours for a minor in creative writing. I enjoy science but I also enjoy writing and literature and stuff like that.

Q: How do you feel about teaching at HCP?

ML: I’m very excited about teaching here. This is actually an interesting story. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I went back to school to get another bachelor’s in secondary education and then get certified to become a secondary education teacher in math and science and I got sidetracked. I nearly got all the way done with that and then I ended up getting a part-time job that was related to my major, which was physics. I ended up working at a testing laboratory for ten years. So part-time turned into full time which turned into a 10 year gig at the same company. So that kind of sidetracked me from doing the teaching thing and I thought about many times about going back and teaching but there always seemed to be obstacles. It just didn’t seem like the right thing at the right time. This opportunity came up and it was literally a friend of a friend that told me that Harding was desperate for a chemistry teacher and she told me a little bit about the situation. It was something I thought about, and I discussed it with several people and I prayed about it and it seemed like the right thing at the right time. I talked to Mr. Hunt and he approved me to start substitute teaching for a couple weeks and that was gone really well. I love this school, the faculty, the kids are great and I’m really excited to be a part of this school and I’m excited to be here now as the chemistry teacher.

Q: What are your hobbies?

ML: I am an amateur musician. I play the trumpet and drums, although I don’t have much of an outlet for that anymore. I used to play in the church orchestra and stuff like that, but I don’t have a place to play anymore. I’m also a music enthusiast, I’ve been one for a long time and I collect records, like old blues and jazz records. I enjoy the music and I enjoy the record collecting part of that. I also like to read. I was a nerd when I was in school so that has sort of continued on towards my hobbies in adulthood.

Q: What are you passionate about?

ML:  My wife laughed when she found out I was going to become a teacher because she was like, “You should do that, Mike! You love to talk!” but I’m very enthusiastic about things that interest  me and science has always interested me and when something gets me excited and I’m interested in it, I love to talk about it with people and I love to share it with people. It really kind of puts me at the right place for being a teacher. I’ve done a lot fo stuff over the course of my years and I’ve owned my own businesses adnd worked for other people but I can say this is truly one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done. It’s a lot of work and preparation, and especially having all the class periods and going back and teaching a subject that I am a little bit rusty on in some areas, it’s been a lot of study and work for me but it’s absolutely worth it and I’ve really enjoyed doing it and I’m really excited about it so far.

Welcome to HCP, Michael Laprarie!