Mr. Bleske

8th Grade Social Studies - Ancient Civilizations

Mr. Bleske's father was a diplomat with the US State Department, so he grew up all over the world. He was born in Vienna, Austria, went to preschool in the Philippines, kindergarten in Rome, Italy, elementary school in Bonn, Germany, middle school in Pakistan, and graduated high school in Zaire, Africa. He went to college in Wisconsin and eventually ended up in Key West, where he met his wife, Caroline, also a teacher (and now the CTE Director for Monroe County).

The Bleskes have spent the last 20 years moving around. They moved to Virginia and Mr. Bleske earned a graduate degree in English at George Mason University while working as a restaurant manager. They had a daughter, then moved to Orlando, where Mr. Bleske taught English at UCF and worked as an editor of several trade magazines. They then moved back to Key West, had a son, and moved again to Vero Beach, Florida, where Mr. Bleske taught high school English.

But they weren't done travelling, so they moved to Lahore, Pakistan and taught at an American school for 3 years. Then it was on to Dubai for 4 years, and then Cali, Colombia for 3 years, until finally settling back in Caroline's hometown of Key West. This is Mr. Bleske's 4th year at Sigsbee.

You can contact Mr. Bleske at bernard.bleske@sigsbee.org

Our Class Principles. Positive, Fair, Simple

WE ASSUME THE BEST INTENTIONS. In our interactions with each other and in our study of the past, we accept that no one deliberately wants to harm others, no matter how much it might seem that way. Rather, people are first driven to satisfy their own needs and wants, to protect themselves and their tribe from harm. To feel secure and loved.
WE CLEAN OUR MESSES. We accept that we make mistakes, have accidents, fail to think ahead, rush, and forget. And then we clean up as best we can. But we also know that we are a community, and sometimes someone else's mess becomes our own. And we know that 'a mess' is not just physical, but emotional, intellectual, historical, and educational.
WE EARN THE RESPECT WE GIVE. No person (and no thing) deserves respect 'just because.' There's always a reason to respect something, just as there's a reason to disrespect it. Respect is therefore something earned. But to earn respect, you have to give it, even to yourself. Find the reasons to respect school and you will earn respect back. Find the reasons to respect yourself and you will earn respect back.