Mr. Farris: beyond the bell and the whistle

By: Tyra Tchou, Staff Writer 

As a wide receiver on his high school football team, history teacher and coach Blake Farris learned that giving up was never an option. And it’s this mindset that he has always tried to instill in his students during his 32 years of teaching.  

“I think the sport teaches you not to give up; it grows your confidence,” Farris said. “It builds you to keep trying.”  

Whether maintaining a positive mindset during a tough game or adjusting his approach in the classroom, Farris uses those lessons he learned on the field to help his students develop resilience. He works to instill in them the same determination he learned as a young athlete. 

“I like educating because my goal in teaching is to help my students be prepared for when they leave school,” Farris said. “Trade or college I want them to be ready, help them achieve their goal.” 

Farris spends his time creating visual presentations that help students see what life was like in the past, understand the major events that shaped history, and learn how the causes and effects of those events connect to one another. 

“He uses real life to connect with his teachings,” junior Ariana Correa said. “He makes everything easy and understandable.” 

While teaching high school history, Farris plays favorites with the past and present grades of which he has taught.  

“I like juniors; they are my favorite grade,” Farris said. 

Farris grew up in the “teaching world.” His dad was a coach, and his mother and grandma were teachers. He grew up in the small city of Dickinson, between Houston and Galveston, and had a simple and happy childhood, complete with two dogs. 

In his free time, he would hang out with friends, whether they were playing volleyball and tennis or going to the mall. 

“We spent a lot of time at the beach,” Farris said. “Or we played a lot of tennis and golf.”  

He eventually fell in love and has now been married for 29 years. The couple’s two children both graduated from the University of Arkansas. Following family tradition, their daughter majored in education while their son majored in finance. 

Now, as he moves forward in his career, taking a coaching job in Dallas, Farris has helped prepare his students for the future by shaping the way they learn and encouraging them to reach their full potential. CCS students wish him the best at his new school and will always remember his encouragement to “never give up.” 

Photo credit: Photos by Ava Hicks/Staff