Background:

Born and raised in California for 35 years, I am glad that I moved to Kansas City in 2015 and joined the staff at Smithville High School. As a child I grew up dreaming of being a baseball player and seeing the world with the smell of dirt and leather always lingering. In high school and college I thought I was going to run my own live theater company (like KC Rep) with the sounds of Shakespeare echoing in the the auditorium. Since 2003, when I subbed for a math teacher, I knew that being in the classroom educating the future leaders, thinkers, writers, and creators of the world was my calling.

When I'm not grading essays, I enjoy walking my two dogs with my wife around Smithville Lake. We came into our marriage with almost identical dogs: bichon-toy-poodle mixes Grady (mine) and Franklin (hers). Most weekends I get to see my wife perform as a violist in the Kansas City Symphony. She has been a full-time member since 2007. On our walks we discuss the next meal we will cook together or plan the details of our next vacation (Iceland, Ireland, and Amsterdam: Summer 2023). Our plan is to visit all 7 continents.

Teaching Experience:

I earned my teaching certificate at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2004.

My full time teaching experience started at Deer Valley High School (Antioch, CA) from 2004-2007. I taught English 10 CP in House 2. All of my students had the same math, English, history, and science teacher. I learned a lot as a Wolverine.

A previous relationship took me to Vista High School (Vista, CA) in northern San Diego County (just south of Camp Pendleton) from 2007-2015. I taught every grade level of English and theater during my time there.

While teaching full-time at Vista High School, I earned a Masters of Education with an Emphasis in Administration at CSU San Marcos in 2012. Thesis Title: The Efficacy of READ180 in a High School Setting.

Since 2015 I have taught almost all levels of ELA courses at Smithville High School. I enjoy teaching all of the students here, cheering them on when I announce varsity games, and supporting their future efforts.

I plan to begin a Master of English Literature program in the spring of 2023.

2022-2023 School Year:

ELA III (Blocks 2A &3A)

Honors ELA II (Block 4A)

ELA IV (Blocks 2B & 4B)

AP English Literature & Composition (3B)

ONLINE COURSE: ACT Prep