Teacher Appreciation Week runs from Monday, May 4th through Friday, May 8, 2026.
Brent Hatakeyama, lovingly referred to as Mr. B, plays many roles at Procter R. Hug High School. He is currently serving as the department lead for the CTE programs, is the HOSA advisor, and is an athletic trainer on campus. On top of that, he also teaches Sports Medicine, Principles of Health Science, and Medical Terminology.
Mr. B has transitioned from a career in the medical field to a career in education. He first started as an Athletic Trainer and soon realized he enjoyed teaching. So, he switched to teaching math and then eventually took over HOSA (Future Health Professionals).
He grew up in Morgan Hill, California. In high school, he was involved in sports including cross county, baseball, track, and basketball. Fast forward, he completed the Athletic Training program, which took 200 hours of clinical internship that involved early mornings, late nights, and significant travel. That seems like a lot—good job, Mr. B! He learned what it meant to have people depend on him to be reliable and take care of others.
Later on, he realized that he enjoyed teaching student-athletes about injuries, exercise and more. That experience showed him that he truly wanted to teach. Fast forward, he chose to teach math because he appreciated how straightforward it was. Hatakeyama stated, “So, maybe it isn’t a coping mechanism. It’s simply the realization that I enjoy hard work, and I believe that I always will.” Mr. B demonstrates hard work and dedication; he’s always trying to improve the class and make it fun!
Mr. B makes sure students are doing well in his class. He checks up on them regularly and makes the class fun, enjoyable, welcoming and interesting. He is an easy person to talk to and gives the support we need!
A junior at Hug High, Elisha Loza, stated, “Shout out to Mr. B for always bringing good energy and making class a better place.” Mr. B doesn’t just teach how to tape an ankle or understand a muscle tear—he teaches that physical health is worth fighting for.
The knowledge and confidence he has instilled in his students will help them to move forward for a lifetime. He is the one person in the building we know will always be on our side when things go wrong. We appreciate everything you do, on and off the clock.
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