I am thrilled to be a part of the Gavilan Peak Middle School team for the 2019-2020 school year.  I will be instructing 7th and 8th grade Math with high expectations of making a positive impact.  This is my first year teaching at Gavilan Peak but not my first experience here.  In 2017 I had the opportunity to complete a masters in education internship with Principal Segersten as my mentor.  This will be my 15th year teaching mathematics; my second year teaching at the 7th and 8th grade level.  Prior to teaching middle school math, I spent 13 years teaching high school math, with experience teaching Algebra 1-2, Geometry, Algebra 3-4, Trigonomety, and Pre-Calculus.  My high school experience included being a Math Department Chairperson and also 15 years as a middle school and high school football coach. 

 I am originally from Montana having spent approximately two-thirds of my life there before moving to Arizona in 2002.  I traded nine months of winter for nine months of summer.  While in Montana I earned two bachelor degrees at Montana State University.  My first degree was in Earth Science followed later in life by a bachelors in Secondary Education with a double major; Mathematics and Physical Sciences (Earth Science, Physics, and Chemistry).  In 2017, I received a Masters Degree in Education (Principal K-12) from Northern Arizona Universtiy.  

I am a Desert Storm veteran having served in the Army Reserves for 14 years.  I was a platoon sergeant (SFC) in a military police (MP) company during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, processing EPWs and refugees in Saudi Arabia and Iraq.  My time in the Army ended when I lost my right hip to cancer.  Pushing forward I began a career in education and coached football.  In 2015 the cancer came back after about 15 years, initiating the doctors to amputate my right leg and hip.  As I tell the younger students, "I had some bad germs so the doctors had to take my leg but now the germs are gone and I am okay".  I am including this so you have a better understanding of my physical appearance and to encourage anyone with questions to please do not hesitate to ask.  Part of my goal is to demonstrate to students that disabilities do not need to keep you from your dreams and aspirations.  

On a lighter note, I am married with three step-daughters and a step-son.  My wife has a law degree and has also been a teacher.  A great deal of my personal time is spent with our grandkids.  We have two granddaughters, ages 6 and 7, and a grandson that just turned 9.  They live in other parts of the valley so do not attend Gavilan Peak.  I have lived in Anthem since 2011 and truly enjoy the trails and the park.  So do my grandkids, especially riding the Athem train.  I love to follow sports, with fantasy football as one of my favorite hobbies.  I have completed the Anthem Turkey Trot on my crutches twice and hope to do it again this year. 

I am looking forward to having an awesome school year.  I am excited to get a chance to know all of the students and parents/guardians.  Together we will work on imporving all students math abilities and find efficient ways to communicate to everyone.  Please bear with me as I learn the Gavilan Peak and Deer Valley systems.  Here's to a great year!  Looking forward to making your acquaintance.