I grew up in New York City, moving to Rhode Island as a teenager and attending high school in Fall River, Massachusetts. I earned a B.A. in History from Fairfield University in Connecticut, but I didn't know what to do with it, so I joined the Navy! I served on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill (CG-52) and the U.S.S. New Orleans (LPH-11) and when the Navy let me go after four years, I stayed in San Diego (less snow to shovel). I then earned a California secondary level teaching credential in the subject areas of Mathematics and Social Studies at Point Loma Nazarene College. I taught math and U.S. History at Horace Mann Middle School from 1992 until 2005, and now I am at Mt. Everest Academy.

As computers have proliferated, I've become more interested in using computers effectively in education. Partially to that end I earned a Master's in Educational Technology at San Diego State University (SDSU). I am especially interested in teacher training, primarily in the areas of lesson strategies, technology, and new teachers.  In recent years my professional interests have moved towards the area of how children learn math and understand mathematical concepts.

In 2001 I earned certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in Early Adolescent History/Social Studies.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS/CERTIFICATIONS:
--California Single Subject Clear Teaching Credential, subject areas of Mathematics and Social Science.
--Clear Cross-cultural Language and Academic Developement (CLAD) certificate
--National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Certified 2001

I am married to the beautiful and fascinating Marie, and we have two wonderful children: Stephen, born in 2004, and Rebekah, born in 2006.

The foundation of my life is my faith in Jesus Christ. While at college I was involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I currently attend Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon.

I love baseball--the San Diego Padres especially! I have coached and played on a men's softball team, and I also enjoy racquetball, tennis and golf. My wife and I used to play on a co-ed softball team, but young children have changed our activities in the last few years!  

Other interests: History, board games, math puzzles.  I love reading: history, historical fiction, biography, science fiction, Tom Clancy-type thrillers... While in the Navy I began some minor acting performances at church, and I loved it. Now I appreciate theater, and I only wish I'd started sooner! I am interested in technology, especially in computers and their uses in schools. My travel dream is to visit national monuments and parks throughout the United States (I've recently been to Manassas National Battlefield Park, and loved it, and I've taken my students on a field trip to Cabrillo National Monument). San Diego boasts a Confederate engineer company, Company E, 3rd Regiment, Confederate Engineers and a Union unit, too. Check it out--marching, skirmishing...back to 1863, with uniforms, mannerisms, accents--living history!

Organizations I belong to or have a professional interest in:

• National Board of Professional Teaching Standards
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• California Mathematics Council
• Greater San Diego Math Council
• California Council for the Social Studies (Greater San Diego chapter),
• California History-Social Science Project, Fellow, 1995
• Phi Alpha Theta (National Honor Society in History),
• Computer Using Educators (and the local San Diego CUE),
• California Association for the Gifted (Association of San Diego Educators of the Gifted affilliate),
• Student Association of Graduates in Educational Technology (former member of SAGE, at SDSU)
• The Zoological Society of San Diego,
• San Diego Macintosh Users' Group
• AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination)
• Colonial Williamsburg (fellow, 1999 teacher progams)