Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
—William Butler Yeats.
My philosophy of education has three pillars; build relationships, be equitable and believe that all students can be successful. I believe education is a sacred trust, and am committed to teaching academic, social and emotional skills in a way that helps my students navigate middle school and prepare for whatever lies ahead.
Before joining Westgate in 2010, I worked in the restaurant business for 17 years. While rewarding, two life events led me to reevaluate my life and it was then I decided to change careers and began working in education. Looking back, this was one of the best decisions of my life. In 1992, I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Central College and completed my Teacher Certification Program from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2009. Teaching history allows me to bring past events to life and help students understand how these events have impacted the events of today. In addition, the exploration of economics, Civics and geography provide students with an understanding of the world around them and how they can be successful, informed members of their community.
In my free time, I love spending time with my wife, Erin and son, Tom. I'm a big fan of dad jokes and love all things Star Wars. I also love to travel, ride my bike, snowboard, play guitar and attend live music concerts.
