About Me

Awards and Recognition:

  • 2017-18: Kern Schools Teacher of the Year Runner-Up

  • 2017-18: Stockdale High School Teacher of the Year

  • 2011-Present: Applied for over 50 separate grants for school/classroom, grant awards totaling over $13,000

  • 2016-17: Led quarterly AP English workshops for KHSD

  • 2015-Present: Organized annual "Poetry Out Loud" contest for school and district

  • 2014: Awarded National Board Certification for English 9-12

  • 2013-14: Led workshops at statewide conference integrating English and US History

  • 2013: Teacher of the Year, Surry Early College HS

  • 2011: Lead consultant for district on implementing Common Core into English 11 and English 12

Education:

  • 2010: Master of Arts in History of Comparative Religions from Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO

  • 2008: Bachelor of Arts in English from Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC

  • 2008: Bachelor of Arts in Religion/Philosophy from Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC

  • 2004: High School Diploma from Surry Central High School, Dobson, NC

Personal Introduction:

Born and raised in the foothills of North Carolina, I spent much of my childhood in the woods, playing among the rocks, creeks, and hillsides of our 100 acre family farm. I seemed to excel in all aspects of high school (except with girls): I was a straight A student, Vice President of the student body, and a three sport athlete (even an all-state wrestler!). But going off to college in the beautiful mountain city of Asheville was where I truly blossomed. I became engaged with my studies, began reading outside of class for my own enlightenment, and started to see where my learning could take me. During this time, I met my wife Katie, and my entire life was changed. She showed me what love was all about. We moved to Colorado to attend graduate school but I got a job teaching high school English in my old hometown in 2010. I taught four amazing years at a small school in North Carolina before moving to Bakersfield to be nearer my wife's family and began our own family. I began teaching AP Literature at Stockdale in 2014. I'm so thankful and blessed to be here!

Favorite things:

Katie, my daughter Eleanor Frances, my family, Cayucos and San Luis Obispo, our dogs Emerson and Daisy, my 3,000 volume library, used book shopping, Bookhounds, discussing philosophy, listening to old soul and blues music.

Introduction to Myself Pr...ntation: In-class version

My Professional Teaching Portfolio Website:

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