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EDITOR’S NOTE: The LaGrange Daily News is doing a Q&A with all of the teachers of the year in the Troup County School System. Today, we are writing about Aidan Blackwell, an IB History and AP United States History Teacher at LaGrange High School. We asked him 20 questions, and we shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Aidan Blackwell has worked in the Troup County School System for 18 years. He has been at LaGrange High School for the last three years but has worked a total of 10 years at the school.

Aiden and his wife, Brooke, have been married since 2017. They have two daughters, Ashton (5) and Ava (2). Ashton attends Hollis Hand Elementary School. Brooke works as a Market Intelligence Manager at Synovus during the day and a Disney vacation planner at night.

Blackwell serves as a Mock Trial coach at LHS with Leah Selbie and Jamie Bozeman. He chose to take on this responsibility due to my interest in legal studies and government, as well as having the opportunity to work with the incredible students on the team. Blackwell also serves as part of the IB Leadership team. 

Blackwell is a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he has served on the Youth Committee for the last two years and will serve the church as an Elder starting this coming January.

What or who inspired you to become an educator?

“I come from a family of educators; my grandmother was a math professor, my mother was a special education teacher, and my father taught law for the Air Force, but my passion for helping young people came from my High School Choral Director, Dr. Carl Davis. He helped us all develop our empathy for those around us, which is something I try to instill in my students as well.”

What are your career aspirations? 

“I thoroughly enjoy being a teacher and building meaningful relationships with my students—I truly cannot envision myself in any other role. Recently, however, I have developed a strong interest in professional development and collaborating with educators to implement best instructional practices. In the future, I could see myself transitioning into a teacher-leadership role focused on professional development, where I can support and guide fellow educators in refining their craft.”

If you weren’t a teacher, what career field would you be in? 

“If I were not a teacher, I would have pursued a career in Child Psychology.”

What hidden talent do you have that might surprise your students and our readers?

“I can bench more than Spencer Stroud.”

 What fictional character (from a book, movie, TV show, etc.) represents your teaching style?

“I polled my students, and the characters they gave me were Obi-Wan, Cory from Girl Meets World, “Professor Snape, specifically from the last movie,” and Star-Lord.”

What’s the most creative/unique project one of your classes has worked on?

“I designed a project titled “Dinner for 8,” where students are assigned historical leaders and organizations to role-play in a structured discussion on the Civil Rights Movement. Students are required to conduct in-depth research and faithfully represent their assigned perspectives. This project, implemented during the junior year of our IB Program, challenges students to develop a comprehensive understanding of diverse viewpoints and enhances their critical thinking and analytical skills.”

If you could invite any historical figure to speak to your class, who would you choose and why?

“I would choose John Lewis. Since reading his autobiography, Walking with the Wind, during college, he has been a profound source of inspiration to me. My IB course places a significant focus on the Civil Rights Movement, so having the opportunity to speak with John Lewis and learn from his experiences as a movement leader would greatly enhance my ability to lead in the classroom. It would also allow me to provide my students with deeper, more meaningful instruction on the Civil Rights Movement.”

What’s the most rewarding part about your job? 

“As an educator, my success is measured by the achievements of my students—whether through their AP/IB scores, college acceptances, scholarship awards, or personal growth as young adults. The most fulfilling aspect of my role lies in the relationships I build with my students and the opportunity to share in the rewards of our collective efforts.”

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

“Time and finding a work/life balance.”

What did it mean to you to be named your school’s teacher of the year? 

“I am truly honored to be recognized by my colleagues as someone worthy of representing LaGrange High School. This recognition reassures me that my hard work has been noticed and appreciated.”

On a weekend or a summer day when school is out, what are your favorite activities? 

“While it may sound clichéd, I genuinely enjoy attending high-quality professional development programs, such as Harvard’s Project Zero Classroom. I strongly believe in the importance of being a lifelong learner and continually striving to improve my craft. Collaborating with other growth-minded educators is something I find deeply rewarding. Beyond my professional pursuits, I value spending quality time with my wife and daughters, which remains a top priority for me.”

As your students transition to the next grade or graduate in May, what is one key takeaway you hope they carry forward from their time in your class? 

“I would hope that my students learn to look at life through multiple lenses. I would hope that they continue to ponder and work to understand other perspectives and never stop developing empathy for others.”