About Me

FAMILY

I am married to an amazing woman! The fact that she married me is enough to tell you how awesome she is! My wife, Carly, is a work-at-home mother. Together we have two beautiful children. My son, Ellis is our first-born and my daughter Lyndie is our newest addition.

My wife and I met when I coached at the same school she teaches at. We were married in 2014 and our son was born in 2015 with our daughter being born in 2016...three crazy years.

Our son is a crazy, typical 7-year-old. He can't sit still and loves to be the center of attention. He's in 2nd grade and loves to learn how to do new things, especially LEGOs!

Our daughter is six-years-old and in 1st grade. Give her a baby doll and she'll be all set for the day.
She loves ballet and all things animals!

My family means everything to me! First first, faith second, work third.

SPORTS INTERESTS

Being born and raised in Northeast Ohio, I am a Cleveland Sports fan. I should clarify, I am primarily a Cleveland Guardians fan! I grew up going to the games at the old Municipal Stadium and then Jacobs Field (it will never be Progressive Field to me).

I loosely follow the Browns, but have never been to a game. As for the Cavs, I've been to a handful of games the past decade, am glad they won the National Championship in 2016, but to be honest, the first and only game I actually watched was Game 7.

As for College sports, I like the Buckeyes, but refuse to wear anything OSU since I myself did not attend OSU. As for any other sport like golf, soccer or Nascar...don't even bother asking.

GENERAL INTERESTS & HOBBIES

What do I enjoy doing the most? I'm a runner. I have been since 8th grade when I started running Cross Country for Cloverleaf. Thus far, I've run five marathons (Cleveland '02, Columbus '03, Chicago '10, Canton '12 and Canton '14). I've run more 5K's, 10K's and Half-Marathons than I can count.

I also love Photography...so much so that in 2006 I started my own photography business. Tim Black Photography has been both a hobby, part-time job and at times, my full-time career. I feel most comfortable shooting sporting events, but also have done senior portraits, family portraits and even a few weddings a year. I look forward to see how I can incorporate my passion for photography into my classes at Northwestern.

Reading would probably be in the top 3. Even though I am a Social Studies and Computer Science teacher, I have always loved picking up a good book and diving in! If a student tells me they don't like reading, my response is always that they haven't found the right book or style yet!

MY FAVORITE BOOKS

Here's a list of just a few of my favorites...

BOOK SERIES

I discovered the Hunger Games series while teaching at Ashland. I thought it was always a kids series, but after I started them, I couldn't put them down!

I started reading Harry Potter while I was a Youth Pastor after going to see the first movie with some students. I was instantly hooked! I can't wait for my own kids to read these books.

I've read all the additional books related to this series that JK Rowling has come out with.

READING THE PRESIDENTS

It's been a lifetime goal to read a definitive biography on every US President in chronological order. Here's where I currently am:

  1. George Washington

  2. John Adams

  3. Thomas Jefferson

  4. James Madison - currently reading

MY FAVORITE TV SERIES

It's a Monday tradition in my house that after the kids have gone to bed, we watch Sunday's episodes of The Walking Dead and Yellowstone. Other favorite shows include This is Us, The Rookie, The Voice, Home Economics, New Amsterdam, Ordinary Joe, The Resident, The Wonder Years, America's Got Talent, Abbott Elementary and so many others...

MY FAVORITE MOVIES

Have you ever watched a movie nearly a hundred times? That's Clue for me. I grew up as a young kid watching this movie with my sister and cousin every time we spent the night at our grandparents. I can recite many (if not almost all) of the lines of the movie.

A very close second for me is The Truman Show. I'm not really sure, other than I saw it numerous times in High School and I just have to watch it anytime I see it online.


Other movies that I love:

Field of Dreams
Newsies
Back to the Future
About Time
Any of the Marvel Superhero Movies
Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock
And I'm a sucker for classic Christmas movies

MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT

I think it might be the breadsticks, but Olive Garden is my favorite restaurant! I don't need a special reason to go there, as really any meal is special enough reason to eat Olive Garden. The problem is my wife doesn't feel the same way :-(.

So, if you ever want to go out for a great meal and need company, you're always more than welcome to invite me to Olive Garden!

MY FAVORITE VACATION SPOT

In the summer of 2007, I traveled to Banff, Canada, with family. We visited Moraine Lake and it instantly became my favorite place on earth (that I've visited)! I would go back there in a heartbeat! It is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.