Hello, I have been teaching in the San Diego Unified School District since January of 2000 after completing my Master’s Degree in Special Education through National University. I began teaching in the Linda Vista area at Montgomery Middle school. Shortly after beginning my teaching career, I moved to San Diego High School during the early stages of “Learning Center” implementation throughout the district. Learning Centers are classes that focused on intense one-on-one and small group instruction in reading development, written language and math skills for struggling learners. In 2006, I began mentoring new teachers in the district through the Intern Support Program before returning to the classroom in 2008 at Lincoln High School and for one year back at San Diego High. In 2014, I began working for TRACE and continuing the ‘Learning Center’ concept through the Adult Learning Center.
I was primarily raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota after my dad was stationed there in the Air Force in 1976. Shortly after high school, I moved to San Diego with my wife and have never left. South Dakota often talks to me still, so I spend much of my time running and spending time in the outdoors. I have two children that are currently discovering themselves in the “adult” world. My wife and I travel at all opportunities to explore new places and to see family back home in South Dakota.
My teaching philosophy is to challenge each and every student and never let them settle for anything less than their best. Beyond the academics, I believe that for young adults to thrive in the world they need three basic tenets : work hard, be on time, and work well with others.