
Thomas Hamilton knew from the time he was a student at Merced’s Golden Valley High School (class of 2018) that he wanted to be a teacher. And there was one specific instructor who influenced that decision.
“My physics teacher, Mr. (Michael) Boykin, was the most amazing teacher,” said Hamilton, who will teach seventh-grade math, as well as the STEM elective, for Denair Middle School’s 2025-26 term. “He was amazing, and I loved his class. Physics is a pretty hard subject and he made it seem easy. I was really inspired by him.” Hamilton was also a Young Life volunteer leader for six years, working with high school and middle school students. “I’ve always loved working with kids and known that I wanted to teach,” said Hamilton, who will be getting married during spring break in Hawaii.
Here are a few other things you likely didn’t know about one of Denair’s newest instructors:
Family members: I have a fiancée named Lauren and a stepdaughter named Brooklyn, who will turn 3 in September.
Educational background: Associate degree in physics from Merced College and a
bachelor’s degree in educational studies from Grand Canyon University.
Subject/grades taught: This is my first year teaching. However, I have experience
substitute teaching in both middle and high school, as well as coaching high school
athletics.
What attracted you to Denair? Denair strikes me as a very close community, where
the staff and students all know each other and work together very well.
What most inspires you about teaching? I am inspired by the many people who have
invested in my future and helped me to succeed in life, and I want to do the same for
the students in my class.
What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I look forward to tackling
all of the challenges that I am sure to face as a first-year teacher. I have a lot to learn.
What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I am a big fan of project-based learning,
especially hands-on activities.
What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember that
they have what it takes to achieve their goals as long as they stay focused and work
hard.
What can parents do to support you? Parents can support me by supporting their
children from home. I would also love to have open communication with parents about
how their children are doing in class, whether they need extra attention in a particular
subject or are doing especially well and deserve praise.
What’s something that would surprise people about your job? Middle-schoolers are
the coolest people in the world!
What do you do for fun? I enjoy being outside, whether it’s camping, hiking, or bike
riding. I love it all!
One interesting, little-known fact about me is … My little brother’s name is Sawyer,
so together we are Tom Sawyer.