About Mr. Harkin

Mr. Harkin taught for 21 years at Sahuaro High School. Sahuaro High School became Mr. Harkin's "home away from home." But with COVID coming in March 2020 and Mr. Harkin having a compromised immune system leaving him "high risk," he began teaching for TUVA (Tucson Unified Virtual Academy).

He is excited about this new chapter in his teaching life!

Mr. Harkin moved to Tucson from Syracuse, NY when he was 4 years old. Mr. Harkin is a proud graduate of St. Cyril's School ('89) and Salpointe Catholic High School ('93). He double majored in English and History at Providence College ('97) with a minor in Religious Studies and Film. Mr. Harkin holds a Masters Degree in Education from Chapman University ('99). Mr. Harkin has accumulated a number of additional graduate credits and he is considering returning to school to persue a PhD--he is currently 12 credits and a dissertation away from this long time goal.

Mr. Harkin is a polio survivor and walks with a leg brace and crutches. This does not hold him back--at all. More on that later.

Mr. Harkin has a wide variety of interests. He has created his own charitable foundation (www.swimforcures.com) which raises money to donate back to the Tucson community. Mr. Harkin is a lover of music, film, and art and spends far too much time rooting for his beloved Boston sports teams. Mr. Harkin is an accomplished long distance, ocean swimmer and lists an "Escape from Alcatraz" through 52 degree water as among his more notable swims. Mr. Harkin was the writer, director, and lead actor in the local film 'Ockham's Razor' which played before a sold-out, 500+ person audience at Tucson's Loft Cinema.

In 2009 Mr. Harkin was named The Arizona Daily Star's "40 under 40 Man of the Year" from over 230 nominated candidates. The "40 under 40" award recognizes the brightest and most successful members of Tucson's community under the age of 40.

Mr. Harkin strongly believes that "experience is the fruit of life." As such, he has visited over 40 countries and urges his students to "go out and see the world."

Mr. Harkin has spectacular son, Andrew James and a stupendous daughter, Audrey Marie. He also has a dog Einstein Crazy Man and two cats Olive and Toodles.