In 2006, Chris Gardner '95 was named Hays Independent School District's Teacher of the Year. Gardner recalls, "You know how everyone nominated for an Oscar says, 'It's just an honor to be nominated?' Well, I get that now. The best part of it all was being nominated alongside all the teachers on my campus whom I most respect."

After teaching for the last 10 years, Gardner has experienced many rewarding aspects of the job. He recalls, "Every year, I get to see a few kids' worlds open up. It's a poem that blows their mind, a play that reshapes their worldview, or the 'I get it!' switch flipping as they make the leap to a new level as writers, and there's nothing that beats it. As an educator and especially as an English and Creative Writing teacher, I get to develop relationships with kids who quite literally transform before my eyes because of material they encounter in my class. That's pretty cool."

In addition to teaching advanced placement literature and creative writing to high school students, Gardner also is the English department chair. "I serve as a mentor for improving young teachers, shape the English curriculum, and work for the department in an administrative capacity as we strive to make Hays High School the kind of place kids love to come to everyday," states Gardner.

Gardner contributes his initial inspiration for teaching to two of his high school teachers. "They proved to me that a teacher can change not only a student's mind but his or her life as well," he recalls. It was while majoring in English at Southwestern that it became clear to Gardner that he was indeed pursuing his passion. "As a freshman, I took a poetry course with Walt Herbert that blew my mind. The following year I took my first of many classes with Helene Meyers, and she proved to me that the best learning happens through conversation. On my very best days, I feel like I'm approaching the body-rockin' facility with which she conducts discussions. I strive consciously to imitate her kinetic and penetrating questioning style," says Gardner. His Southwestern professors helped him to see that there is nothing more interesting or more rewarding than the study of literature.

Gardner is indebted to Southwestern for providing him with skills necessary to excel. "My Southwestern education forced me to look critically at ideas both big and small, to draw connections between subject areas, and to question ad infinitum those things that provoke suspicion and, perhaps more importantly, those things that seem above it," states Gardner.

While at Southwestern, Gardner served on Southwestern's literary magazine staff, played as a four-year member of the lacrosse team and was an active member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Following his time at Southwestern, Gardner has this advice for current students, "Don't leave without taking classes from Dr. Meyers and Dr. Kilfoyle. Wear shoes as little as possible. Try to climb 50 percent of the trees on campus; you've got time. Go watch (my cousin) Daniel Webb play soccer; that kid's amazing. Take afternoon classes and sleep late; the pre-dawn hours are the best ones."

Gardner stays actively involved with Southwestern by recommending the University to his students. He states, "Sending my best students to SU has been one of the most exciting parts of my job."

Away from the classroom, Gardner enjoys a variety of activities, but is kept busy by his recent introduction into fatherhood. "In the frivolous days before fatherhood, I played disc golf, played drums, listened to and collected music, wrote for an online music magazine, and traveled with my ever-clever wife (Stacey Robinson-Gardner '97). Now, I play with my daughter when she's awake and wait for her to wake up when she's not," says Gardner.

Currently, Gardner is actively pursing his dream. "In 10 years I see myself right where I am, teaching AP Literature and Creative Writing and looking every day for the key that unlocks a kid's mind."