By Mayzi Retzlaff
Aurora High School has a new face in the history department this year, and he’s eager to share his passion for the past with students. Mr. Trevor Patsios, originally from Kearney, Nebr., says joining the Aurora community feels like the perfect fit for both his career and his family.
“I was born and raised in Kearney and graduated from Kearney High in 2015,” he explained. “After earning my teaching degree from UNK in 2019—go Lopers!—I had the opportunity to come to Aurora. It felt like an excellent chance for me professionally, and also a great community to raise my daughters. Aurora is a great town, and I’m proud to be a part of the Husky family,” he said.
Teaching wasn’t always in the plan for Patsios. He admitted he wasn’t entirely sure of his path during college, even though he loved history. That changed after some encouragement from former teachers.
“They challenged me to pursue education, and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he said.
In his classroom, Patsios wants students to do more than memorize dates and names. His goal is to spark curiosity and build confidence.
“I hope I am able to motivate and engage my students to empower themselves in the learning opportunities I provide,” he said. “Ultimately, I want to create lifelong learners, whatever that may look like.”
For him, the most rewarding part of teaching is the relationships.
“Teachers have such a strong influence on their students,” he explained. “It’s always cool to see the accomplishments students make during high school and beyond. When we see them achieve great things, it’s hard not to be proud of them.”
As a historian at heart, Patsios believes the subject holds lessons that are just as important today as they were in the past.
“History teaches us how to think critically and to see events from multiple perspectives,” he said. “A lot of history is open to interpretation, which creates great discussions. There are lessons we can learn from those who came before us, and those moments have shaped the world we live in today.”
Patsios said he loves helping students see history as something alive, not just locked in the past.
“The stories you come across are fascinating, and many aren’t found in textbooks,” he said. “I try to make history come alive for my students and connect past events to modern-day issues.”
With his enthusiasm, knowledge, and dedication to students, it’s clear Mr. Patsios will be more than just a history teacher—he’ll be a mentor, guide, and proud supporter of the next generation.