New to Tulsa, Chase Hubbart is an Edmond native who graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in 2018. He then earned a B.A. in Biology: Computation and Genomics from Washington University in St. Louis. Before joining Holland Hall, Mr. Hubbart worked as a Computational Biologist at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) in Oklahoma City.

Question: 1. What inspired you to become a teacher, and what keeps you excited about the profession?

Answer: I was previously a computational biologist for an Aging and Metabolism lab in Oklahoma City, but after budget cuts to research I needed to pivot into a new field. While job searching after a move to Tulsa, I substituted for Tulsa Tech so I could actively apply for jobs while supervising kids, and I loved being able to share my knowledge with the students during the short time I was with them. I then shifted my focus into trying to find a career in education! I like to tell people that teaching kids is similar to teaching scientists, because both can be stubborn and have egos.

2. What is one thing you hope every student takes away from your classroom, beyond what they learn in your subject?

My goal for every student in my science courses is to walk away from class having found something that fascinates them, even if it’s as simple as how science can apply to their everyday lives. When students leave my class, whether they are a freshmen in PEP going on to more advanced science in Holland Hall, or seniors going on to college, I hope they feel prepared for what their future experiences with science will bring them. If they go on to another class and think, “I remember Mr. Hubbart talking about this concept!”, then I did my job.

3. What attracted you to Holland Hall, and what are you most looking forward to as you begin your time here?

When looking for a school, I was really looking for a smaller institution with a big focus on community — exactly like Holland Hall. I look forward to being part of the HH community, and have already felt welcomed by the entirety of the staff and students. I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome. Go Dutch!

4. Has there been any fellow faculty member who has been instrumental in helping you adjust to Holland Hall?

First, I want to give a shoutout to everybody that has made me feel welcomed in the Upper School — especially my fellow science department teachers who have answered each of my many, many questions. My deepest gratitude to my co-teachers in my courses, Ms. Baumann and Dr. Diaz Soto, who have worked every day to make our classes the best we can be!

5. What is one of the most important lessons you’ve learned from a student?

During my time here, I have seen all of these kids so excited to grow up. Whether it be getting their learner’s permits, driver’s licenses, or eligibility to vote, they’re all so ready to be treated as adults and move into the next stages of their lives. If there’s one thing I have learned about being an adult — it kinda sucks! It’s caused me to reflect on my own stage of life, and to appreciate the time I have now and who I can spend it with. I have adjusted to being introspective on a day-by-day basis, rather than overarching time periods, because I want to live more in the here and now.

Bonus question: You’ve spent most of your life in the Oklahoma City area. What are your initial thoughts of Tulsa?  

Favorite TV show: Survivor and Big Brother

What are you reading right now: I just finished rereading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Favorite restaurant and your go-to meal there: Sub’s & Mo, 81st and Aspen. Turkey Sandwich with Bell Peppers

Favorite band/musical artist: Current artists in my rotation include Dayseeker and Red Hot Chili Peppers

Favorite hobby: Gaming. It allows me to stay connected to friends who live across the country.

The world needs more of: People who are curious. Science is all about curiosity, posing hypotheses, and testing them to see if they can gather data to support or reject their results. We need more curious people in the world asking why things are the way they are, as well as people with the courage to explore those questions.

The world needs less of: Greedy companies trying to crack down on account sharing! Why is Spotify joining Netflix and Disney+ in this crusade against families that don’t live in a single household? Soon these corporations will start charging based on the number of eyes viewing a screen like a dystopia. Stop this madness!