Coppell Honors precalculus and Honors algebra II teacher Farzin Farzad is a new teacher to Coppell ISD. Prior to this year, he worked at Dallas College as an adjunct professor and the director of instructional support areas. This year alongside teaching six class periods, he is also teaching dual credit courses at CHS. This will be his first year teaching both high school and college students at the same time.

Why did you decide to go into teaching?

It was just to keep the knowledge I had from my college years and apply it towards continuing my learning. And I enjoy teaching. [My family is] either in the teaching field or in the medical field, and I didn’t like the medical field too much, so I decided to go into teaching. I’ve grown up around teachers and educators all my life, so it was just second nature for me.

What is your favorite aspect of mathematics?

[Math] is the best exercise for your brain, it challenges you. Once you get the answers and once you learn, it is so rewarding. Discovering what your brain can do when you push it hard enough, surprises you all the time.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of school?

Be with my family (wife Nazila, and daughters Parmida and Parmis). I also love playing tennis. And when I get really good quiet quality time, I enjoy reading a good book -I like mystery novels and spy novels. [My favorite books are] Untethered Soul [by Michael Alan Singer] and New Earth [by Eckhart Tolle].

What is the greatest lesson you would share with your students?

Not worrying about tomorrow and not regretting the past and living in the present. By not stressing over the past or the future, [your] focus is going to be on the present, [then] what you can do is use all of the cells in your brain and all of your strength, your mental strength, to solve problems. And that’s one of the most important things in math and STEM, to be able to use your knowledge, be a critical thinker and to not have obstacles in your thinking [in order] to get to the solution.

What is your favorite teaching memory?

Anytime I see the class, any of the classes that I’ve taught throughout the years, have an “aha!” moment, or a breakthrough moment, where the whole class catches on and they are able to share that knowledge with others. One of the pleasures of being a teacher is when you see it happen again, it becomes your new favorite [memory], every time it happens.

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