Mr. Adair’s journey to becoming a beloved teacher at St. Thomas High School began far from the classroom. Growing up in the heart of Dallas at Highland Park, he initially pursued a career in accounting.
“I started as an accountant,” Adair said. “I got a degree in accounting and minored in history. I liked my history classes, but this was in the early ‘90s, and a recession was going on. I was worried about finding a job.”
For the first decade of his professional life, Mr. Adair navigated the corporate world, working in accounting and finance.
“I really didn’t like it,” he said. “I kept coming back to my love for history.”
This passion led him back to school to pursue a master’s degree. It was during his time as a teaching assistant that he got his first taste of education.
“I loved leading review sessions for undergraduates. That was my first practical experience in teaching history.”
His journey into education continued as he gained experience as a substitute teacher at St. John’s from 2003 to 2005.
“That was my first time teaching high school students. It gave me a taste of what it was like to be in the classroom.”
Mr. Adair’s connection to St. Thomas began unexpectedly. In the spring of 2005, he interviewed at the school on the day of the fall festival.
“I showed up in my business suit, and all the students were running around in shorts and T-shirts, playing games. I thought, ‘This is an interesting school.’”
During his interview with Coach Mills, then the head of the History Department, Mr. Adair found a shared passion for military history.
“He asked me what I focused on in grad school, and I told him about my thesis on tank battles in World War II compared to the Persian Gulf War. We spent 45 minutes just talking about World War II.”
Unbeknownst to Mr. Adair, Coach Mills had served six years in the army and specialized in military history. “We hit it off right at that moment,” he said.
Despite his connection with Coach Mills, Mr. Adair was nervous about his follow-up interview with Father Schwenzer.
“I didn’t grow up in the Catholic Church. I was worried he’d ask me about Catholicism or the Bible, and I wasn’t sure how to answer,” he laughed. “But he was very warm and just wanted to get to know me.”
Mr. Adair accepted the job and started teaching at St. Thomas in the 2005-2006 school year. Reflecting on his two decades at the school.
“I’ve grown to really love St. Thomas. Both my sons went here. My older son, Henry, graduated in 2019, and my younger son, David, graduated in 2021.”
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unexpected challenges.
“We had to convert to Zoom learning, and we pared down our curriculum quite a bit,” he said. “But history lent itself better to online learning than subjects like chemistry labs or theater tech. We managed better than some departments just because of the nature of history.”
Adair’s passion for History is one he hopes his students share, but he’s also a realist.
“I don’t expect students to remember everything we cover. I hope at least one topic sparks an interest—whether it’s the Cold War, the American Revolution, or presidential elections. I want them to be curious about history and to be lifelong learners.”
Outside of teaching, Mr. Adair is passionate about music and language learning.
“I play guitar and bass, and I’ve been in faculty bands since I started at St. Thomas. It’s a fun way to connect with the community,” he said.
He is also learning French and Spanish, inspired by his travels with his wife. “She’s almost fluent in French, and we’re planning a trip to France this summer, so I’m brushing up.”
Mr. Adair has a lot to reflect on in his 20 years at St. Thomas, and he isn’t through yet.
“Most of what I’ve learned about history, I didn’t learn in school. I learned it by teaching and continuing to read and explore. I hope to instill that same curiosity and love for learning in my students.”
