Mr. Barr is a teacher by day, but after school has a lot of hobbies that keep him busy.

One thing that links it all together is Mr. Barr’s passion for teaching and fitness.

Mr. Barr has been a special education teacher at Bellwood-Antis for 5 years. He’s an Altoona High alum who graduated from Penn State Altoona in 2004.

In the spring, Mr. Barr devotes countless hours to coaching his daughter’s 8U softball team. He’s been coaching his both his daughter’s team for 3 years.

The season should go well, he estimated,  noting that his softball players are eager to learn skills.

Another side hobby when Mr. Barr is not teaching or coaching softball is weightlifting, something he’s been doing since he was in the 9th grade. Back then, Mr. Barr’s dad had a simple setup in their basement that he would mess around with in his free time. Then he started playing sports.

“In 9th grade, weight training was much more structured and I lifted at Mansion Park for football,” Mr. Barr said.  “After high school I continued lifting at college, and it’s been part of my life ever since.” 

With the little free time he has, Mr. Barr enjoys playing video games such as A Link to the Past, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye, Halo, Call of Duty, and Destiny.

Mr. Barr has grown into a popular teacher among both faculty and students, though his closest co-worker, Mr. Stewart, with whom he shares a room, has some complaints.

“Mr. Barr’s side of the room needs cleaned up,” Mr. Stewart says jokingly.

Above all, Mr. Barr is a good teacher for students at B-A because whenever a student asks for help, he is more than willing to give a hand.