About Me
About Me
The 2024-2025 school year begins my 14th as a Teacher.
The 2024-2025 school year begins my 14th as a Teacher.
(Not just ) a little about me:
(Not just ) a little about me:
I was an "Army Brat," until my dad retired from his Military service as an Army officer in 1977, the summer of my 18th birthday. I lost count of how many houses we lived in, but my dad was stationed on various bases in Southern California, Arizona, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as two bases in Germany (Mannheim and Heidelberg). My favorite joke about growing up is, "I was in the Army for 18 years, and then my dad retired."
I was an "Army Brat," until my dad retired from his Military service as an Army officer in 1977, the summer of my 18th birthday. I lost count of how many houses we lived in, but my dad was stationed on various bases in Southern California, Arizona, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as two bases in Germany (Mannheim and Heidelberg). My favorite joke about growing up is, "I was in the Army for 18 years, and then my dad retired."
I wasn't the greatest student in high shcool, weathering through, and receiving my diploma in 1977 from Desert High School, which is located on Edwards Air Force Base, in the Mojave Desert. At the end of that summer, my dad retired from the Army and I moved to San Diego, California with my mom, dad and younger brother, Kelly.
I wasn't the greatest student in high shcool, weathering through, and receiving my diploma in 1977 from Desert High School, which is located on Edwards Air Force Base, in the Mojave Desert. At the end of that summer, my dad retired from the Army and I moved to San Diego, California with my mom, dad and younger brother, Kelly.
Having no desire to attend college at the time, I got a job working in the warehouse at Sea World, San Diego, pricing and delivering all the products sold in the various gift shops. After a string of minimum-wage jobs, I decided to go to college.
Having no desire to attend college at the time, I got a job working in the warehouse at Sea World, San Diego, pricing and delivering all the products sold in the various gift shops. After a string of minimum-wage jobs, I decided to go to college.
I began my college experience in 1978, taking basketball, Art and Water Safety Instruction, completing a basic education at Grossmont College in May 1981, earning an A.A (Associate of Arts) degree in General Education.
I began my college experience in 1978, taking basketball, Art and Water Safety Instruction, completing a basic education at Grossmont College in May 1981, earning an A.A (Associate of Arts) degree in General Education.
I entered the Graphics field in the summer of 1983, after leaving college at California State University at Long Beach, one semester shy of earning my B.A. (major life mistake #1), at the behest of my first wife, Megan.
I entered the Graphics field in the summer of 1983, after leaving college at California State University at Long Beach, one semester shy of earning my B.A. (major life mistake #1), at the behest of my first wife, Megan.
In 1987, after 300 classroom hours, I received a Certificate in Desktop Publishing, where I began my love of Adobe Illustrator88. (This was before Adobe Photoshop was designed, programed and became a household name).
In 1987, after 300 classroom hours, I received a Certificate in Desktop Publishing, where I began my love of Adobe Illustrator88. (This was before Adobe Photoshop was designed, programed and became a household name).
After my first divorce (yes, there was more than one), in 1995, I returned to school to complete the courses required and receive my B.A., (Bachelor of Arts) degree in General Fine Art, from Long Beach State.
After my first divorce (yes, there was more than one), in 1995, I returned to school to complete the courses required and receive my B.A., (Bachelor of Arts) degree in General Fine Art, from Long Beach State.
Also in 1995, I took a 200-hour course and received a Certificate in Multimedia from the Foundation College, learning the rudiments of MacroMedia Director and Adobe Photoshop.
Also in 1995, I took a 200-hour course and received a Certificate in Multimedia from the Foundation College, learning the rudiments of MacroMedia Director and Adobe Photoshop.
From 2003 - 2005, after 20 years in the Graphics industry, I once again returned to school to begin training as an Art Teacher, through National University. When I was offered a full-time position as a Project Manager and Graphic Designer for Southwest Strategies, (which is the largest Public Relations firm in San Diego), I took a three-year hiatus from my studies.
From 2003 - 2005, after 20 years in the Graphics industry, I once again returned to school to begin training as an Art Teacher, through National University. When I was offered a full-time position as a Project Manager and Graphic Designer for Southwest Strategies, (which is the largest Public Relations firm in San Diego), I took a three-year hiatus from my studies.
I was laid off from Southwest Strategies in October 2008, returned to National University to perform my Student Teaching under the tutelage of Keith Opstad -- Master-Teacher extraordinaire, completing and receiving my Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art, as well as a Masters Degree in Education in 2009.
I was laid off from Southwest Strategies in October 2008, returned to National University to perform my Student Teaching under the tutelage of Keith Opstad -- Master-Teacher extraordinaire, completing and receiving my Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art, as well as a Masters Degree in Education in 2009.
I worked as a substitute teacher in the Poway School District for a year until I was hired to teach Visual Art and Design at Kearny High School's Science, Connections & Technology, Principaled by one of my closest friends, Dr. Derek Morris. I taught for 3 years at SCT until a change in the administration dissolved the need for my position, and became a Substitute Teacher again.
I worked as a substitute teacher in the Poway School District for a year until I was hired to teach Visual Art and Design at Kearny High School's Science, Connections & Technology, Principaled by one of my closest friends, Dr. Derek Morris. I taught for 3 years at SCT until a change in the administration dissolved the need for my position, and became a Substitute Teacher again.
After a long-term substitute position at the School of Creative Performing Media Arts for the latter half of the 2013-14 school year, and a replacement contract at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, for the second half of the 2014-15 year, I once again connected with Dr. Morris at the Creative Performing Media Arts Middle School, teaching Fine Art and Multimedia Design (Digital Art), where I facilitated the exploration of all things Visual Art.
After a long-term substitute position at the School of Creative Performing Media Arts for the latter half of the 2013-14 school year, and a replacement contract at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, for the second half of the 2014-15 year, I once again connected with Dr. Morris at the Creative Performing Media Arts Middle School, teaching Fine Art and Multimedia Design (Digital Art), where I facilitated the exploration of all things Visual Art.
In the Summer of 2019, I was informed I'd be "excessed," (meaning, the proportion of teachers to students was in excess), and in the Fall of that year I was reassigned to teach at Standley Middle School.
In the Summer of 2019, I was informed I'd be "excessed," (meaning, the proportion of teachers to students was in excess), and in the Fall of that year I was reassigned to teach at Standley Middle School.
When COVID shut the schools down in March 2020, as the San Diego School District tried to determine how to finish the school year online, I packed up my gear and as much clothing as I could fit in my car, and moved to Tucson, Arizona, to help my mom with my dad.
When COVID shut the schools down in March 2020, as the San Diego School District tried to determine how to finish the school year online, I packed up my gear and as much clothing as I could fit in my car, and moved to Tucson, Arizona, to help my mom with my dad.
As the number of students requesting the Art class at Standley continued to diminish, I was informed I was to be excessed again at the end of the 2019-2020 School year.
As the number of students requesting the Art class at Standley continued to diminish, I was informed I was to be excessed again at the end of the 2019-2020 School year.
That Spring, I interviewed, via a Zoom meeting, for my current position as the Art Teacher Clark Middle School, in the San Diego community of City Heights. This year we're piloting a program in Digital Art & Mixed Media, focusing the final semester of the year in Digital Video.
That Spring, I interviewed, via a Zoom meeting, for my current position as the Art Teacher Clark Middle School, in the San Diego community of City Heights. This year we're piloting a program in Digital Art & Mixed Media, focusing the final semester of the year in Digital Video.
My favorite pastimes are Educational Technology (as evidenced by the re-purchase of TEDfolio.com and the creation of, and on-going updating of this site), reading Graphic Novels (primarily of the Superhero genre),drawing Cartoons, studying scripture, and traveling the country to visit with my children.
My favorite pastimes are Educational Technology (as evidenced by the re-purchase of TEDfolio.com and the creation of, and on-going updating of this site), reading Graphic Novels (primarily of the Superhero genre),drawing Cartoons, studying scripture, and traveling the country to visit with my children.