Mr. Joseph DeGaetano

"The body can only go where the mind has already been"

Hello everyone,

My name is Joseph DeGaetano and if you are viewing this site you more than likely already know me in some context. For those of you that have stumbled upon this site by chance, this is my professional educator website. Albeit, I use professional very loosely. Hahhahahha.

A Short Bio

I’ll never forget the summer before my sixth grade school year. Two friends and I decided that we were going to ride the “bike trail” (an old railway line turned rail-trail that linked the very rural Purcellville, Virginia to metropolitan Washington, DC) starting from the section behind our neighborhood all the way into the city. Of course, we didn’t mention this idea to our parents. It wasn’t that we were purposefully trying to deceive them, instead, it was that we were completely oblivious to the fact that this was a big deal and probably something that we shouldn’t do for many different reasons. Looking back on it now, this was an utterly absurd idea that was naturally born from that amazing cocktail of adolescent, imaginative, exploratory minds. After all, not a single one of us realized how far 90 kilometers on a single-geared BMX bike really was. I don't know if we even had a water bottle amongst us and probably had a total of something like five USD on us combined. In what was quite possibly both the greatest adventure and most moronic idea of my childhood, we made it to the city and eventually made it back home. Just barely. Maybe it was the sense of adventure, or perhaps it was the dehydration and ragged exhaustion that set in about half way through; but that trip and all the sights, sounds, and thoughts from it, solidified itself as a pivotal point in my life that would mold and shape both my private and professional life to come.

With that being said, I've worked as a teacher for fifteen years with my concentration being secondary education social studies. Over the course of my career I've taught just about every subject within the social sciences and have experience with students as young as 6th grade and as old as 12th grade. In addition, I've taught across a wide variety of demographics from fairly affluent suburban schools and poor rural schools in the United States, to private international schools in Europe and Asia. Along the way I've come to realize that there are certain things that always ring true in the school setting. One being that kids will be kids regardless of where you are in the world. I can see myself in many of the kids that I’ve taught. In fact, I can usually see glimpses of that bike adventure in my students. That is to say, I’ve come to realize that all kids are information sponges. They are naturally curious about the world around them and want to explore every nook and cranny, from the internal to the far fringes of what they can already fathom. They genuinely want the best for themselves and others around them. Of course, I recognize that they'll try to derail you at times and make excuses for themselves. But in all reality, I genuinely believe that all kids want to learn and become successful however they might define that as, and as long as they have intrinsically bought in, they will indeed finish the “ride” regardless of how many obstacles are stacked against them. It is in that spirit that I try to motivate, impassion, and support my students.

As far as outside of my career is concerned, I am a happily married husband and father of two amazing young children. Tracy (my wife), Jack, and Ella (my children) are the anchor to this ageing, wanderlust vessel of a body that I reside in. Being a father is quite the journey and one that I'm constantly learning how to navigate and become better at. My kids and wife have taught me so much about what it means to live for others and how to ultimately give the best of yourself to this world. I'd be lying if I didn't say that at times being a family man is a challenge for my wild ways. But in the end, I wouldn't have it any other way. As a family, we have decided to seek new adventures by working abroad and raising our children in international settings. Tracy (who is also an educator) and I feel that this lifestyle is an invaluable lesson that can’t really be taught living a more traditional life.

Along with being a teacher and family man, I'm an avid rock climber and mountain biker with even a little professional experience in the fields. It is not an exaggeration to say that I've probably dedicated most of my adult life to pursue adventures that involved a bike or climbing gear. Simply put, I love to explore wild places and get deep into the backcountry where I can be immersed in all the grandeur and beauty that is found on our planet. It might seem absurd to some, but I feel the most alive and in fact spiritual when I'm surrounded by the best that mother nature has to offer. My passion for human-powered adventure burns as bright today as it ever has and I'm endlessly hatching plans for adventures in the mountains, forests, and waterways of the world.

To sum up all this rambling, I would like to say that I appreciate any opportunity that I’m given and as cliche as it may sound, I truly give my all at everything that I do. Cheers to endless bike trail adventures in life!

Teaching Experience

• 2004-2007- Loudoun County, VA (US History Teacher)
• 2007-2008- American School of Kosovo (World History/US History Teacher)
• 2008-2009- Charlotte Mecklenburg, NC (World Studies Teacher)
• 2009-2017- Fayette County, WV (Social Sciences Teacher)
• 2017-present - Thai Chinese International School (Social Science Teacher)

Non-Teaching Related Work Experience

• 2004-2007- Rock Climbing gym instructor and climbing team coach (Sportrock Climbing Gym)
• 2009-2011- Professional rock climbing guide and instructor (New River Mountain Guides)
• 2011-2017- Co-founder of Fayetteville Outdoor Adventure (https://foa4h.org)
• 2015-present- Freelance writer with over 30 published articles (RootsRated media https://rootsrated.com)
• 2016-2017- Fayette County Public Schools Wellness Chair

Education

• George Mason University 1996-1998
• Bachelor of Science, Major in History, Minor in Secondary Education Appalachian State University 2002-2004
• Geo-Political Studies Graduate level classes at Marshall University

WELCOME TO MR. DEGAETANO’S CLASS

Dear students and parents,

Welcome to my social studies class. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you throughout the year and hope you will do the same of me. I truly believe that the unique experiences each person collects through life are worth sharing with others and that a large portion of teaching and learning should be derived from that collective knowledge. In addition to studying social studies content this year, we will also work on other lifelong skills such as reading comprehension, writing, organization, proper social skills, among many other topics. With regards to social studies, I promise to not make you memorize facts and dates but instead will concentrate on teaching the “big picture” and the stories that make history, geography, politics, and culture come alive. Within the sciences of Psychology and Sociology, I expect that in addition to the assimilation and comprehension of concepts, students will also gain valuable insight into their own mannerisms and those around them. I realize that no two students are alike and because of this I will use a variety of resources, assignments, and assessments to create an engaging and balanced class for everyone. Now that I have briefly introduced my teaching methodology let's go into some of classroom specifics.

II. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Follow school and class rules
2. Put forth your best effort

III. ATTENDANCE/ABSENCES/MAKE UP WORK

1. You must be in class on time and prepared everyday to do your very best
2. If you miss a class due to sickness or other circumstances you will be able to make up missed work, but it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to find out what you missed and what you need to make up. TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR EDUCATION!

IV. EXTRA HELP

1. I am available after school and before school for extra help. You just let me know what works best for you and I will do my best to accommodate your needs.
2. Remember, my job is to teach you and your job is to learn. So… you need to tell me if you do not understand or need extra help.
3. Asking for help is a mature step in the right direction if you are struggling.

V. COMMUNICATION

1. I welcome my students and parents to come by and see me to talk about any concerns that you may have. My room is 3-32 and my door is always open.
2. You can also email me at joseph.degaetano@tcis.ac.th

VI. CLASS RULES

1. RESPECT me. RESPECT others. RESPECT yourself. And RESPECT our school.
2. I deal with discipline on an individual basis. That means if you never give me any problems in class and are generally not a behavior issue for me (this should be all of you), I will ignore, dismiss, and usually quickly redirect you for something minor such as chatting when I’m talking. I realize that no one is perfect and we all have our days. BUT, if you happen to be someone who is always breaking the rules and I’m always having to redirect you and deal with some issue from you (this should be none of you) , then essentially you are on different behavior management plan than others in class and we will need to administrators and possibly parents involved. The takeaway here is, you write your own record with me based on how you act. More infractions, less lee-way. Be respectful.

I look forward to a great year with all of you and forging lifelong bonds.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeGaetano