Many years ago, after I acquired my BA in Psychology at the University Of Kentucky, I was unsure where to continue my education or what profession to pursue. My initial undergrad plan was science, specifically Chemical Engineering. So naturally, the first few years were Chemistry and Biology heavy. However, I had never been exposed to Psychology in high school, and after my first Intro to Psychology class, I was hooked. The core of my upper level classes consisted of Developmental and Learning Psychology. The new goal was a graduate degree in School Psychology. Unfortunately in 1997, I was young, curious, and interested in many diverse areas of learning.
During my senior year at the University of Kentucky, the Internet exploded, and upon graduating, I continued my education at a Graphic/Web Design school where I graduated with High Honors. For the last 15 years I have been the technical director of an online software company. Not only does this require me to be head of hiring, lead team meetings, and report to upper management, it also requires me to instruct a wide variety of customers how to use our product in detail. Our product is used all over the country, from small border towns in Texas, to Los Angeles, St. Louis, and New York City. I grew up on a small farm in Kentucky, and have lived several years in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and now 10 years here in Stanislaus County. I have met a massive amount of diverse people along the way, and it has certainly made me a better well-rounded person. I am patient, and if Psychology has taught me nothing else, it has shown me that we should never judge a book by its cover. For example, a student who is having a bad day and disrupting class doesn’t necessarily mean they are a bad person. As a teacher it’s our job to understand that challenging behavior is communication. My background in Psychology is indispensible in this area.
I am also loyal to a fault. In one form or another I have worked for the same boss/business partner for over 15 years. I do not give up easy and work hard for things to succeed. I put in long hours, weekends, and sometimes all-nighters to achieve the owner’s vision. Alas, after many years of success, the Internet landscape changed, and like many industries, became dominated by big business. The rise of do-it-all design companies made options more automated and template-driven. Even though it was cheaper and accessible to consumers, it was impersonal and required less creativity.
In the back of my mind, I always wanted to do something more meaningful. I wanted to make a difference. My wife, who is a special education teacher, suggested I look into teaching. I was hesitant at first, but the idea grew on me quickly. I went to observe students and teachers at local high schools, and the moment I stepped on either campus I instantly realized all the exciting possibilities. It was amazing seeing the teachers work and I realized that despite what some people say, high school hasn’t changed that much since I attended many years ago. The community of teachers that I spent time with were all warm, engaging, and eager to help me in my quest.
I recognize the first few years of teaching will be incredibly difficult, but I’m no stranger to hard work and long days. I have many years experience in project management. I have constructed project plans, assigned timelines, and held people accountable for missed deadlines. I am confident that those skills will carry over to classroom management. I’m dedicated and strive to do the best I can at any job. I have no doubt of my success. I love learning, and know that any deficiencies I have as a rookie teacher, I can draw from the vital knowledge of my peers. Most importantly, I do not take for granted knowing my biggest supporter is my 15-year teaching veteran wife, who understands explicitly what I’ll be going through.
I look forward to the challenges, and also the rewards of the teaching profession. I already know the community of professionals that I will be joining is some of the brightest, caring, hard-working people I’ve ever met. It would be an honor to join the fight to expand the minds of the next generation of adolescents.