Zhaocheng Han is a physics and earth science teacher at Alexandria City High School. He started teaching at ACHS this year, coming from Freedom High School in Loudoun County Virginia. 

Han was born on January 21, 1997, in Chengdu, China and went to High School Number 7 in Chengdu. Han has family in Los Angeles who he would visit as an adolescent. Through his visits as a child, Han grew a love for America, particularly the West Coast. Ultimately, Han decided that he would go to college in the United States after high school.

Han went to Virginia Tech where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physics in 2021 and obtained his master’s in 2023 in secondary science education. While Han was in college, he didn’t see himself becoming a teacher. However, he became one at the recommendation of a professor while he was a teaching assistant. The professor ended up giving him the blueprint which he followed to become a teacher. 

When asked if teaching was his passion, Han stated, “It didn’t even cross my mind, but becoming a teaching assistant created that passion. Being able to pass information on to the next generation is what I’m ultimately passionate about.” 

 Han is an advocate for hands-on learning. He believes that knowing how something works and doing it yourself are two different things. “I believe that students should be exposed to the real thing instead of just writing what’s supposed to happen on paper. I think labs and hands-on activities give students a new level of understanding because they are seeing how something works first hand.”

Han believes that the most important thing that anyone can take away from physics is to think like a scientist. “ When you think like a scientist, you have a better understanding of how everything works around you. It’s important because it helps promote a deeper understanding of a certain topic and can help create skills,” Han stated.

Outside of school, Mr. Han is a soccer fan, or, in his words, “real football.” His favorite player is Lionel Messi. Han is also a “huge sneakerhead” and an avid sneaker collector. He has over 60 pairs of shoes, and his favorite is the OG Air Jordan 1 Chicago. 

“Mr. Han’s passion shows while he is teaching. He very clearly cares about physics and his students,” said Silver Fanning, an ACHS senior and physics student of Mr. Han’s. 

At home, Han has a pet ferret named Iron. He enjoys spending time with his friends and playing video games. Han is also passionate about movies and reading. His favorite movies are Interstellar and Oppenheimer, while his favorite book is “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking.

“Mr. Han is easy to talk to about my passions whether it’s video games, music, or sports. Mr. Han is fun to interact with even outside the context of learning,” Fanning also stated.

Han has made an impression on many of his students even though it is his first year of teaching at ACHS, his personal connections with students have created a more engaging environment in the classroom as Han is teaching something he is passionate about, just as his students can talk to him about their passions.

“I thoroughly enjoy working with him. Mr. Han is a dedicated teacher. He is funny, kind, and flexible… Mr. Han is able to relate to his students. He is always willing to do what is best for his students. Mr. Han is a sponsor for the Women of the Future club and The Connect for Cancer club. During class you can always bank on Mr. Han said several times “Do you understand?”  He is an excellent addition to our ACHS Titans.” – said, Earth Science teacher, Ms. Jamison Moorer.

Mr. Han is having a very welcoming first year at ACHS and plans to continue to teach in a way that engages students through making personal connections and putting a heavy emphasis on hands-on learning. “While learning in a physics class or science class, in general, the most important thing is you learn the mindset of how to think scientifically.” – Mr. Han