Tell us about yourself!

Hi! I’m Justin Tran (Aka Mr. Tran, aka your friendly neighborhood science teacher). I am a Dallas area teacher, educating my wonderful students on STEM topics. Currently I am teaching 7th grade Honors Science and Technology at a magnet school in the South Dallas area. I first decided to become a teacher seven years ago after volunteering to do a career day at a school where my cousin was teaching at the time. I was quickly enamored by the student engagement and connections I got to build with the kids. To this day, the positive and supportive relationships with students and their families are one my favorite parts about being a teacher. I love catching up with former students and seeing how far they have come and how much they have grown as a person. Aside from my time in the classroom, I also coach the school’s Chess Club, founded and sponsored the school’s first Photography Club and I also own/operate a wedding photography and media production company who has been featured on the cover Texas Teen Models and Voyage Dallas. I love to keep myself busy and productive but when I’m not, you’ll typically find me traveling abroad, grading papers at a local coffee shop or capturing some beautiful images for my clients.

Who is your favorite NHL® player and why?

Jason Robertson. I think the NHL and professional team sports in general should have more AAPI representation. There are a lot of athletes who are of asian heritage but are rarely featured or even selected on sports teams.

What is your favorite part of the Future Goals™program? How do you see STEM in the game of hockey?

I love the gamification of learning and how the merger of technology in educations has really developed over the years. The students in my class really enjoy having the opportunity to experience hockey while incorporating STEM concepts in class. Many of them have never been to a Dallas Stars or hockey game in general. So it was a great chance for them to experience hockey and reinforce the concepts we talk about in class.

If you played hockey, what position would you play and why?

I would probably play the Goalie. Whenever I played a sport as a kid, it was the one position I would always be selected to play. Whether it was because I was always the biggest kid on the team or just a natural magnet for balls and pucks. I think it suits me well.