Welcome
I love
teaching and I love technology. This website is a solid mixture of both
passions. In it, you will find examples of technology used in my
classroom, my teaching philosophy, and resumé. My intent is for you to
come away with an understanding of my professionalism and commitment to
teaching and technology.
Professionally
I currently teach American History for Oak Hills Local Schools. From 2001 to 2006 I taught in the Houston Independent School district as an eighth grade American History teacher.
In addition to teaching students, I also held positions of leadership in the school. I've been the Social Studies Director (Chair) and school web master. During professional developments, I've held classes that assist teachers in integrating technology in their classrooms.
Background
I grew up in the wonderful town of Holland, Michigan (beautiful summer beaches and incredibly colorful autumns). A graduate of the University of Michigan, I've also spent time abroad in Chile and Brazil (thus a Latin American Studies Major to go along with the History). After graduation, I moved to Texas and substitute taught for a year. Enjoying the experience, I enrolled in a post-baccalaureate education program at the University of Houston. I'm now finishing a M.S. in Instructional Technology.
Academically, I've always been drawn to the study of history. I carry this interest into the classroom. Knowledge of history is not only critical to understanding why we do things, but also to perceive where we desire to go in the future. P. B. and J. S. Medawar summarize it best:
"Human behavior can be genuinely purposive because only human beings guide their behavior by a knowledge of what happened before they were born and a preconception of what may happen after they are dead; thus only human beings find their way by a light that illumines more than the patch of ground they stand on."
Other Interesting Things
My favorite past time is spending time with my wife. We both
love to travel and have been to many parts of the world (her passion is
for the Middle East, mine is for South America). In addition to
traveling, I love to read, design websites, and camp.