A teacher, traveler, and Educational Technologist!

I believe in two things as a teacher: we are all capable of greatness, and there should be a reason behind everything taught and learned.  As such, my students can always expect my very best effort, and there will always be a reason for the things I present in class.  I have only ever taught middle school, so you can expect me to be fair, reasonable, and incredibly understanding.

I currently hold a Bachelor's Degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing, I have done graduate work in the area of English Composition, and I hold a Master's Degree in Educational Technology.  This year, I am continuing work on my Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction.  I have a deep passion for creativity: I have written a novel, I have published poetry, and I've even written and performed original music.  In my spare time (what there is of it), I travel, spend time with family, take long runs or ride my moped around the neighborhood, and find new ways to reach my students.

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I have two boys, Asher and Graham, and both of them are in college. Asher is almost a senior at California State University, San Bernardino, and he wants to continue the family tradition of being a teacher (he wants to teach history). Graham is a freshman at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and he is studying film production. We just moved him there in August of 2021, and it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do as a dad. My wife, Michelle, is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Palomar City College, and we've been married for over 27 years. We recently bought some land on the island of Kauai, and we are excited to begin building our forever home there soon!

I began teaching in 1998 at Mira Loma Middle School, and I was fortunate enough to be able to learn a great deal from my parents who also taught there.  I transferred to the Murrieta Valley Unified School District in 2004, and I have taught at Warm Springs Middle School ever since. I am hoping, once I finish my doctorate, to work at the district or state level to improve curriculum and instruction in the public schools; I am also looking into work at the university level.

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If you would like to know my thoughts and perceptions as it relates to specific educational topics, make sure to check out my blog!