It was a warm December afternoon when 9th grader Matias Agudelo heard the news.  John Ferney Higuita was joining High School “When I first heard the news I was confused, I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew First Robotics Competition (FRC) was going to become tough,” Agudelo said.

After 15 years of teaching Middle School, Higuita decided to take on the challenge of transitioning to Grade 9 Technology and FRC classes, replacing long-time technology teacher Richard Newcomer.

“The decision to move from Middle to High School wasn’t easy. However, I was motivated by all the challenges that teaching HS students represent,” Higuita said.

Teachers, students, and administrators believe that Higuita is a great teacher, who cares about the learning done in his class, but above all, about his students.

“Higuita is an excellent teacher. He is very rigorous in the academic sector and cares a lot about class content and how it is delivered. As a person, he is very dedicated towards his students, ensuring that they are always learning,” Julian Zuñiga, HS Technology Teacher, said.

Students also believe that Higuita is not only a great teacher but also a friend. Outside the classroom, he is characterized as a funny and caring individual, who is always good to have around.

“I’m not with Higuita this year, but he was my teacher last year, and from my perspective, he is very funny and an amazing teacher that always challenged me to put in all the effort,” Maria del Mar Aaron, Grade 9, said.

Higuita joined HS to replace former teacher Richard Newcomer who decided to leave his position six months prior to the end of the school year.

“Higuita replacing Richard was a very sudden change. However, I think it was a good decision because even though he is very strict he is extremely nice as a teacher, and I like him a lot,” Agudelo said.

Higuita joined HS in January to pursue personal challenges and improve student learning. He is a firm believer that students are capable of going way beyond school expectations and is certain that they can become academically challenged.

“Everybody knows that I’m always up to a challenge. I am very ambitious in that aspect,” Higuita said.

Higuita joined TCS in 2008. He graduated from La Universidad de Antioquia specializing in graphic design and is a professional translator for Spanish, English, and French.

He currently teaches Grade 9 Technology and FRC, Higuita has also taken over the Creative Design course, an elective that encompasses students from Grades 10-12.

“My full name is John Ferney Higuita Mejia. From this comes a particular story that not many people know about, I don’t like my second name, but everyone at the school calls me John Fer,” Higuita said.

Apart from his job at the school, Higuita holds multiple other positions. For instance, he is a teacher at ITM University and is currently working on personal projects like silk screening T-shirts.

He has been a part of the TCS community for the past 15 years. He is the chief of the technology department for both Middle and High School, and throughout the years he has become a teacher icon among students, due to his particular way of teaching.

“Last class I approached a student to help him review some work, and he proceeded to tell me: ‘Just the fact that you are here makes the subject more difficult,’ and that makes me feel proud and says a lot about me,” Higuita said. 

Many students classify Higuita as a demanding teacher that holds very high expectations for his class, making students fearful of what’s to come for the rest of the School year.

“They are a bit wary. They have told many teachers, classmates, and even me, that my class is very demanding so they are somewhat fearful because I am here. But in general, the student reaction was positive and I’m thankful for that,” Higuita said.

For many students, Higuita joining HS opens a new door for their learning. Similarly, teachers are also very happy to welcome him and have a new partner that is always willing to help them improve their teaching processes.

“I give opportunities to those who deserve it and to those who don’t, that is what they taught me at my house and it’s something that I try to bring to the classroom. I believe that in life, you earn things with hard work and respect,” Higuita said.