About Me

Here is a short story about myself. My apologies, it's not a novel, and it's not on any best-seller list. However, it might just be the feel-good story of the year.

My Family:

My wife Nikki and I have four sons, Jacob, Aaron, Reid, and Shane that keep us very busy--and we love it! Our boys love to play various sports are are very musical. They play the piano, electric guitar, accordion, and a few more random instruments. A great time for my family is to go to the lake, a ball game or attend a concert. There is always something fun to see and do when we go as a family with four boys.

My Teaching Philosophy:

I am here to ensure that your child receives the education he or she deserves, while having an enjoyable time. I am committed to making that goal a reality. With the help of my students and their families, we will accomplish a lot this school year. A positive attitude towards learning is the most important thing a young person can develop, as learning continues beyond the school years. Our efforts and cooperation will pay off. Let's establish a partnership through our communication in order to lead your child to success. Your child's safety and education are very important to me.

My Background and Education:

I was raised in Lengby, MN, moving to Fosston at the age of 11, and attended elementary school here at Magelssen Elementary. I attended Fosston High School where I was involved in football, basketball, track, band, and student council. I also participated in American Legion baseball in the summer. I graduated from FHS in 1994. From there, I attended Bemidji State University, graduating in 1999 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics. I did my student teaching at Win-E-Mac Elementary School in Erskine in a 4th grade classroom under the guidance of Linda (Erickson) Stuhaug. It was an awesome experience. In 2009, I finished my Masters Degree in Education, with a cognate in Mathematics, at Bemidji State University, after three years of summer school on-campus and online classes during the school year.

My Professional Background:

I taught 3rd grade for one year at Bagley Elementary School before moving to Fosston in 2000. I taught 3rd grade from 2000-2004. I taught 5th grade for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years before moving back to 3rd grade for the 2006-2007. I moved back to 5th grade in the fall of 2012. For the 2018-2019 school year, I worked in the technology department and helped maintain computers, printers, and iPads, along with helping to manage systems in both school buildings. For the 2019-2020 school year, I moved back to the elementary school and taught 4th grade. With the exciting addition of our new STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in the fall of 2020, I moved into this program and have been in this role ever since. Our focus is on building and creating with an emphasis on a growth mindset. A great quote that summarizes our mission is, "An expert at anything was once a beginner." The classroom is a great place to be to make a difference in the lives of kids on a daily basis and help them to develop skills to help them succeed in the future.

I have coached baseball at Fosston High School since the baseball program was re-established in the spring of 2004 after 30 years without a baseball team. The Greyhounds won the subsection championship for the first time in 2008! After being the head coach for 5 seasons, in 2009, I moved into an assistant coaching spot in the baseball program in order to focus on my education, classroom responsibilities, and my growing family. I have also coached jr. high basketball, jr. high track, and jr. high and JV football.

Graduate Courses Completed:

U.S. History

Literature Circles and Guided Reading in the Classroom

Computer Utilization

Computer Programming

Computer Maintenance

Math Facts and Math Word Problems

Differentiated Learning: How to Teach to Varying Ability Levels

Discipline with Dignity: Effective Classroom Management

Learning by Doing: Active Learning in the Classroom

Strategies for Building Home-School Partnerships

Stopping Disruptive Behavior II (summer 2010)

Bemidji State University--Masters Degree in Education, Mathematics Cognate (2007-2010)

Advanced Educational Psychology

Research in Education

Arithmetic Foundations

Readings in Mathematics Education I

Readings in Mathematics Education II

Assessment in the Mathematics Classroom

Discrete Math for Elementary & Middle Level Teachers

Patterns & Functions for Elementary & Middle Level Teachers

Data Investigations

The Learning Community

Critical & Creative Thinking

Instructional Design

Curriculum & Instruction

Directed Group Study

Capstone Experience (final course with hands-on project of creating a collection of online educational resources that are useful in the classroom or at home.

updated 8-25-20

St. Paul Rivercentre

Oct. 16-17, 2014

RESOURCES:

Project Success

Thursday, Oct. 16

Dr. John H. Jackson

Accelerating Higher Order Questioning

Debra Peterson

Friday, Oct. 17

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in MN

Friday, Oct. 17