About Your Teacher
I grew up in the small town of Westphalia, MO. Being a town of less than 350 people I had to make my own adventures. It did not matter if it was exploring the nearby woods and stream, or going for a run; as long as it was outside it was an acceptable activity. I also was extremely interested in science so science expeditions were a must. At the age of 10 I began doing animal presentations for the local school. I loved entertaining people through science.
When school was not in session thankfully, there were a lot of family vacations to keep me occupied. They included a lot of trips to South Dakota, Colorado, and Oklahoma to visit family. These trips included all the states that were around the area. Adventures included a trek to the top of Mt. Capulin in New Mexico, summiting mountains in the Rockies, hiking though the Badlands and so on. Everything was an amazing adventure and a great learning experience.
When school was not in session thankfully, there were a lot of family vacations to keep me occupied. They included a lot of trips to South Dakota, Colorado, and Oklahoma to visit family. These trips included all the states that were around the area. Adventures included a trek to the top of Mt. Capulin in New Mexico, summiting mountains in the Rockies, hiking though the Badlands and so on. Everything was an amazing adventure and a great learning experience.
As life continued more responsibilities piled on. Although trips were still a norm, so was work. Of course I worked when I was really young doing jobs like shoveling snow, or yard work like a lot of other kids do to make money. In high school I got my first real job at Panera Bread Co, and later at a coffee shop called Café Via Roma. One of my favorite “jobs” in high school was being a volunteer aid for the special education department at the k-12 school I attended. I worked with a couple children with varied learning disabilities helping them express their thoughts through art therapy. It was an amazing experience to see an improvement in their communication skills just by using their art as the median. My senior year I took on yet another task. This task involved teaching the elementary gifted and talented program with one of my friends in an after school format. We remembered how much it had helped us get through things, so we volunteered to take on the responsibility on when a teacher was not hired to fill the role.
Soon my high school days came to an end and I started a work and travel schedule. I would travel to dog sit and house sit for family, or travel to help with big projects. When at home I worked for tips, if the person could afford to pay me for doing what they needed they did. If they could not afford it then I did it anyway. I had not set price for what I did. Sometimes all I would get was a big hug and a thank you. There is nothing worth more than seeing a huge smile on someone’s face!
Soon my high school days came to an end and I started a work and travel schedule. I would travel to dog sit and house sit for family, or travel to help with big projects. When at home I worked for tips, if the person could afford to pay me for doing what they needed they did. If they could not afford it then I did it anyway. I had not set price for what I did. Sometimes all I would get was a big hug and a thank you. There is nothing worth more than seeing a huge smile on someone’s face!
My need for adventure was always with me. Soon I joined another cause and set out to volunteer in 2005 for the Red Cross to help with hurricane Katrina relief. I worked with Katrina victims and then ended up working with the victims of Hurricane Rita. I endured the wrath of the hurricane with 4 other volunteers and some amazing chefs; this was so we would be there to help as soon as the hurricane was over. It was an unforgettable experience evacuating and helping so many people. When returning home I turned my journal into short book which was published with the title Facing Katrina and Rita. This was so that new volunteers could better understand the strains of volunteering prior to aiding in a disaster.
After my volunteering I got back into my usual schedule of working. And then in 2007 I decided to move to Florida. I got a job at Scholastic to make enough money for the move. After 4 and a half months I was off on a new adventure. I lived Florida for a few months trying to find a school I liked and worked for Pat’s Lawn Care. I thought that I had found a college I would enjoy, but after attending I found out that I was wrong. A couple months later I moved back to Missouri.
In Missouri I went on another disaster assignment helping with the Southern Missouri Floods. I was in charge of the disaster assessment, which meant I got to drive around and meet people! It was devastating to see the destruction of their homes.
When I returned home from my assignment I began looking for another college. I eventually found a home at Northwest Missouri State University. While there I continued with the American Red Cross as an instructor, was a research assistant, conversation lab instructor (for ESL students), the "go to guy" for anything, and an avid adventurer! After four and a half years I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology.
When I returned home from my assignment I began looking for another college. I eventually found a home at Northwest Missouri State University. While there I continued with the American Red Cross as an instructor, was a research assistant, conversation lab instructor (for ESL students), the "go to guy" for anything, and an avid adventurer! After four and a half years I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology.
After graduation I began teaching middle school science in the state of Florida. While teaching I pursued and earned a Masters of Science in Sports Management: Outdoor Adventure Sports. Through all the scientific research I have aided in, I have discovered that it is essential to be well versed in adventure sports in order to succeed in data collection.
While teaching science I am also busy as the head coach for Cross Country, the head coach for Track and Field, and the Physical Fitness Officer for the North Marion Civil Air Patrol.
While teaching science I am also busy as the head coach for Cross Country, the head coach for Track and Field, and the Physical Fitness Officer for the North Marion Civil Air Patrol.