About Mr. Grombacher

I am a native Austinite and attended college at The University of Texas at Austin.  I received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UT in 1999, but had health problems soon after my graduation.  I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Fortunately, the tumor was operable and turned out to be benign.  I had surgery to remove the tumor in early May of 2000. Following the surgery, I was partially paralyzed on my left side for almost two weeks.  I was already considering going in to teaching, but was truly inspired to do so by my own high school teachers, several of whom came to visit me in the hospital.  

While in high school and college, I was a competitive swimmer.  In 1998, I was fortunate enough to qualify for the 2000 United States Olympic Trials, in the 200 meter butterfly.  My health issues that spring cast doubt on to whether or not I would be able to compete at the Olympic Trials that summer.  However, I was very determined and I was able to recover well enough to swim in the Olympic Trials in August, three months after my brain surgery.

Through my struggles, I learned a lot about keeping things in perspective, as well as perseverance and focusing on a specific goal.  I strongly believe that even when things seem impossible, with the right attitude, much can be accomplished.  

Today, I am very excited to be in my 24th year of teaching - my 22rd  year at Westlake!  In my time here, I have taught Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC and our Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra courses.   I have witnessed my students demonstrating great determination and focus and have watched them overcome obstacles to achieve success.  I am continuously impressed and inspired by the students I’ve had the privilege of teaching and have enjoyed seeing them go on to achieve amazing things, in high school, college, and beyond.   I am looking forward to another incredible school year!

My wife, Susan, teaches Spanish here at Westlake.  We met in the copy room of the Ninth Grade Center at the beginning of the school year in 2003.  We were married in 2009 and now have three children, Nathan (12), Lily (almost 11) and Noah (9).  We are certainly very busy.  If I ever have free time, I still enjoy swimming and I also play golf (usually with my Physics teacher from high school).