'So much potential for good'

Arabella Cotner - Jan 28, 2026 

Tom Farr is a pre-AP English I teacher here at Huntsville High School, known for his compassion despite his rigorous teaching methods and wry demeanor.

Farr has had a passion for language arts from a young age. 

“I’ve loved reading ever since I picked up a Curious George book as a child. I fell in love with creative writing in middle school when I would write song lyrics and stories,” Farr told The Hive.

Despite being so interested in English, teaching was not his first thought when it came time to choose a career. 

“I always wanted to be a writer, but I ended up studying music and recording production in college instead of writing," Farr said. "Music is hard to get into as a career, so I became a youth and music minister in a church for a short time after college. Through that, I discovered a love for teaching, so I got my teaching certification. ... I’ve loved it ever since.”

When asked what being a teacher has taught him, Farr responded with something many of us could afford to keep in mind: “There’s so much potential for good in the world.”

“Students make some silly choices sometimes, but they’re also capable of so much good,” Farr continued. “I love seeing the transformation from who they are when they come into my class as freshmen to what they become as the years progress. I often learn as much from them as I hope they learn from me.”

According to Farr, there are many ways in which being a father has influenced his approach to teaching. 

“Probably the one my students appreciate the most is that I try to avoid giving homework as much as possible," he said. "I’d prefer my students to enjoy their time outside of school because they won’t have that level of freedom forever.”

This, coupled with the way Farr manages his classroom, makes his care for his students crystal clear. 

“I like how he makes connections with each individual kid and gets to know them personally,” freshman Lillian Cotner said.

Aside from his students, it’s obvious that Farr’s family is an important aspect of his life as well. Farr grew up in Owasso, Okla., where “the best part of growing up there was meeting my wife who went to high school one town over,” he said.

Additionally, Farr says he’s “had the opportunity to teach all three of my children, and I’ve been grateful to be a part of their educational journey as their dad and one of their teachers.”