About Me

Hello! I am excited to have you in Language Arts /Advanced Language Arts at Newton, and doubly excited to meet and get to know each of you as you come to our class each day! I am entering my 19th year of teaching, and it is my seventh year at Newton. I have taught grades 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11, but I love middle school kids. I think 7th grade is a huge transitional year, and I'm here to help kids survive the challenges of balancing school, friends, and hormones!

Before teaching, I was a restaurant manager for 15 years. I grew up in Missouri (Branson), but I moved to Colorado after college. I received my undergraduate degree from Missouri State University and later in life, I earned my Masters in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix.

My wife (Mary) and I will celebrate our 24 years of marriage in March. We enjoy biking, hiking, traveling, and playing in the Colorado outdoors! We have two dogs (Oreo and Gracie), and we consider them our kids. You'll also notice in my classroom that I am a sports fan. I enjoy watching just about all competition, but my favorite teams are the Chiefs, Rockies, and the Avs! I waited my entire life for a CHIEFS Super Bowl victory, and I am extra excited and hopeful for a 3-PEAT this year! The Avs have certainly been exciting the past couple of years, and as a jaded Rockies fan, I'm just thankful for a beautiful place to enjoy a baseball game when I can!

I became a teacher because I am passionate about relationships, helping students achieve academically, but more importantly, helping kids discover their own potential. I read a book about 20 years ago called, Wild At Heart. A quote stood out to me: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Instead, ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." I became a teacher because this is my life's purpose. I am alive and passionate about this day, every day being a time of discovery, and I hope to earn your trust as someone who cares very much about who you are and who you will become.

Here's to a fantastic year!

Mr. Wood

My awesome wife of 23+ years!

Oreo and Gracie Rye:: the two "children" in my household.

80's night... The 80's were my middle / high school years, and I still love 80's music!

I love photography! I'm not an expert, but it's a fun hobby.

I'm obsessed with moose! I have quite a few moose stories I'll tell you this year!

As our first assignment, if you read this on the weekend of August 16-18, write me a note on a blank lined piece of paper. Make sure you put your name on there, and tell me something I should know about you. Don't tell anyone else, but hand me the note as you enter my classroom on Monday, August 19th for candy!