Zachary High Teacher of the Week: Chris Staggs

Age:  43

Hometown: Tiptonville, Tennessee

Currently resides in: Baton Rouge

High School attended: Lake County High School

Family: Two daughters - Reagan (9th grade at ZHS) and Jessica (7th grade at Northwestern Middle)

Years in education: 20

Years at ZHS: 18

Subjects taught: I currently teach AP World History, AP Government and Politics and Honors Law Studies and serve as department chair for the ZHS Social Studies Department. 

Clubs/Sports/Organizations: Coach of the ZHS boys and girls cross country teams, coach/sponsor of the ZHS mock trial team, sponsor of the ZHS Student Government Association and Homecoming coordinator

Education: B.S. in Social Studies Education from LSU

What was it that led you to teaching social studies courses?

I always enjoyed learning about all of the various social studies subjects when I was a student and had a deep interest in law and history. 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Interacting with my students and watching them progress to the point where they begin to think critically about both history and the current issues of the world in which we live. 

Do you have a teaching philosophy or life lesson you try to instill in your students?

I try to pass along an enthusiasm for life-long learning and instill the value of understanding history, as well as the importance of being an informed and active citizen.  

Teacher’s favorites include...

Books: Fiction - "Where is Joe Merchant?" by Jimmy Buffett and Non-Fiction - "Destiny Disrupted" by Tamim Ansary, The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Movie - Blue Hawaii 

Restaurant - City Cafe in Baton Rouge

If you could be working in another profession, what would it be?

It would probably be something in law, or I'd be a stand-up comedian...it could go either way.

Where would you travel if you could spend an entire month doing so?

China and India