Mr. Rader's Class

Who is Mr. Rader?

I am a 2001 graduate of Garrettsville Garfield High School. I attended Kent State University for a few years before joining the Army. I went to basic training to become a Military Police soldier at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After several months of training, I served in South Korea for three years. While there, I was selected to serve on the Army’s Military Police Special Reaction Team (Military Police SWAT). I reenlisted while in Korea and had the opportunity to attend K9 school. After K9 officer training, I was stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky as a K9 Police Officer. I served as a Narcotics handler there for a little over a year, an Explosive Detection handler for about a year and a half, and the SWAT K9 handler at Fort Knox all before my service ended. 

After my time in the military, I chose to make a trip to Afghanistan as a civilian explosive detection K9 handler. I then went to Iraq to work with the U.S. Embassy and Department of State in Baghdad for just over a year. All of my experiences lend themselves well to social studies education, and I decided that was my path, so I returned home to begin the education program at Kent State University. Upon graduation, I was hired at Crestwood High School, where I taught U.S. History, Government, and an American Wars elective class. 

This is my 11th year as a teacher and my 8th year at West Geauga High School. I also serve as the NHS advisor and the 10th-grade class advisor. I am married to a fellow social studies teacher in another district, and together we have two children, Lincoln and McKinley, along with our dog, Theodore (“Teddy”).

Degrees and Certifications: 

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice-- University of Maryland University College

Master of Arts in Teaching Integrated Social Studies 7-12-- Kent State University 

Master of Science in Psychology (In progress)-- Grand Canyon University

Military:

Protective Security Specialist-- Worldwide Protective Services- TC/Department of State

Staff Sergeant- Advanced Leader-- U.S. Army NCO Academy

Patrol/Detection K9 Handler-- Department of Defense Military Working Dog School

Sergeant- Warrior Leader- U.S. Army NCO Academy    

Special Reaction Team Course-- Department of Defense Special Police Tactics

Military Police School-- U.S. Army Advanced Individual Training