At Harrison High School, there’s a teacher who does more than just teach math—he helps students build confidence and motivation. Mr. Joshua Locke has become a favorite among students, not only because he loves math, but because he reflects confidence on his students to succeed. With his humor, understanding, and belief in his students, he’s quickly become a beloved part of the school.
For Mr. Locke, teaching wasn’t part of some big plan; teaching was just something that worked out. When asked what inspired him to become a teacher, he replied by saying, “I really find self-fulfillment by inspiring and helping others learn and achieve goals. It’s nice knowing I can help kids succeed and fill them with knowledge and pride and it gives them self-confidence.” After college, Mr. Locke didn’t have a specific school in mind, but when a job opened up at Harrison, he decided to give it a try. “I graduated and knew I wanted to be a teacher. I was looking for any job hiring in the middle of December, and it turns out Mrs. Donath was on maternity leave. I came in for what turned out to be my interview in the end, and that’s how I ended up here.”
Even though he didn’t plan on teaching at Harrison, Mr. Locke’s impact on students here has been significant. He doesn’t just want to teach math; he wants students to believe in themselves. “Every student can learn more than they think,” he says. “My main goal isn’t just to teach them how to do math, but to show them they can learn even when it’s tough.”
Another thing that makes Mr. Locke special to students at WHHHS is how welcoming and supportive he is. “Building relationships with students is key. When students know I care about them, they’re more willing to work hard, even when an assignment is difficult.” This makes his classroom a place where students feel safe and supported, which can help them take on challenges, both inside and outside of class.
While he pushes his students to their very best, Mr. Locke also knows how to maintain a balance of education and fun. One of his favorite memories is the “Boomer Friday” tradition he had with his students last year. “They started it, and it was so funny,” he says, “Every Friday, I’d walk in pretending to use a cane like I was an old man. The students would laugh and say ‘Don’t fall! You’re going to break a hip!’ It was a great way to connect with them. I have so many more funny memories since teaching here, but that’s definitely one of my favorites.”
Although these were great memories for him and his class, managing a classroom is more than just about jokes. He knows that it can be hard to keep some students focused on top of trying to balance work, which is another reason he works hard to connect with his students. He says, “When you don’t have a good relationship with your teacher, it can make school uncomfortable, but when you work together and let them know you’re on their team, it makes everything so much easier, for me and the student.” When he builds strong bonds with his students, he says “I feel like it helps them work through even the hardest assignments with a lot more confidence.”
Besides memorizing equations, Mr. Locke hopes that his students walk away with one important lesson. He says “I want them to know they can do more than they think, as long as they keep trying. Just this little piece of advice can help so much not only in school, but throughout life”
At the end of the day, Mr. Locke is more than just a math teacher; he’s someone you can always go to when you’re struggling. No matter what the situation is, he will always try his best to give you a solution to your problem, math related or not. His drive for students to succeed, both in class and in life, is what makes him a teacher that truly makes a difference.
