Kelsa Blair serves as an Assistant Professor of Education in Howard Payne University’s School of Education & Fine Arts, where he works with the Educator Preparation Program. With nearly 25 years of experience in education, Blair brings extensive knowledge of teaching, school leadership, and student development to his role at HPU. He is beginning his fourth year at Howard Payne University and considers returning to HPU a meaningful homecoming.
Blair teaches Teaching & Learning II and Educational Technology, courses that are taken by students throughout the Educator Preparation Program. He also teaches content courses in science and social studies that are primarily designed for elementary education majors. His favorite course to teach is Teaching & Learning II because of the variety of students represented in the classroom. The course brings together future coaches, music educators, band directors, high school teachers, middle school teachers, and elementary teachers. Blair enjoys helping students from different educational paths develop a strong understanding of what it means to teach effectively.
One of the aspects Blair values most about teaching at HPU is the opportunity to integrate his Christian faith into his work. During his interview process, he was encouraged not only to include faith in his teaching but to recognize it as an important part of his role. This expectation strongly resonated with him and continues to shape the way he approaches the preparation of future educators.
Blair is passionate about teacher preparation because he believes classroom teachers have tremendous potential to influence the lives of students and the generations that follow them. He views education as more than a profession; he sees the classroom as an important mission field where teachers can make lasting differences through their knowledge, character, encouragement, and example. His goal is to prepare future educators to understand both the responsibility and the opportunity that come with teaching.
Blair is also personally connected to Howard Payne University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations from HPU and later earned a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Tarleton State University. His undergraduate experience at Howard Payne played an important role in his own development, which makes serving at the university especially meaningful. For Blair, working at HPU feels like coming home and gives him the opportunity to invest in students at the same university that invested in him.
Outside of the classroom, Blair enjoys spending time with his family and appreciates any activity that allows them to be together. He has been married to his college sweetheart since 2000, and they have four children ranging from elementary school to college age. Blair and his family are involved with Southside Church Brownwood.
Blair’s office is located in Newman 133. Through his teaching, mentorship, faith, and experience in education, he seeks to prepare future teachers who are confident, capable, and ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of their students and communities.
