History teacher Curtis Lewis has spent more than three decades in the classroom, building a career defined by connection, consistency and impact.
With 32 years of teaching, including 26 at Poway High, he is a familiar and respected presence on campus. Lewis has taught AP US History, Civics, AP Human Geography, and AP Government.
Over the years, Lewis has taught thousands of students, with his reach extending across generations.
“There’ve been a lot of great teachers and friends and students, and I still keep in contact with students that I had over 20 years ago, and now they have kids. I’ve taught the children of former students as well, which is interesting.” Lewis said.
He said that one of the most meaningful moments of his career came in 2003, when the school came together before his deployment to Iraq. Students and staff organized a large send-off, and ASB raised money for a Disneyland trip for his family.
While overseas, he received letters and messages of support from the Poway High community.
“It was a really cool support system. It was pretty unusual, but it truly meant a lot to my family. It really showed me the love and the camaraderie from Poway High,” Lewis said.
In the classroom, Lewis focuses on making lessons engaging and relevant. He believes students learn best when they feel connected, both to the material and to the teacher. Some of his most memorable activities for students were his story times, dress up days, and toilet paper wars.
AP US history student Lily Gharst really enjoyed the activities Lewis did. “I had so much fun being in his class. My favorite part was having to dress up as historical figures and acting out the parts. He really shows that he loves his students and teaching us.” Gharst said.
AP US history student José Landeros has felt the impact of his teaching, “He is honestly very dedicated to his teaching. He loves what he does and you can tell it’s one of his passions. He doesn’t just teach because it’s his job, he teaches to truly help students learn about history,” Landeros said.
After decades at Poway, Lewis has decided to retire from teaching to begin a new chapter in his life. He plans to move to a more affordable area where he can experience all four seasons and a different pace of life.
Looking back, Lewis reflects positively on his time at Poway High and the relationships he built along the way. His impact goes beyond the classroom, seen in the students he continues to hear from years later.
