"A leader is best when people barely know that he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worst when they despise him. Fail to honor people, they fail to honor you. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aims fulfilled, they will all say: We did this ourselves." Lao Tzu
I began teaching in 1983. Many things have changed in education since that time, but one thing that has not changed is my passion for teaching. As the end of each August approaches, I am sorry to see another Maine summer pass, but I look forward to meeting the next group of young sixth graders as they come down the hall into our classroom. My first teaching position was overseas at The American School of Guatemala. I spent two wonderful years there. That's where I met my wife, and I say that I took one of the best parts of Guatemala home with me.
When I returned to the USA, I took a teaching position at York Middle School. I've been here ever since! I feel lucky to teach in the town of York. Parents are supportive of education and have high expectations. Wanting to improve my craft as a teacher, I studied at UNH and earned a Master's Degree in Reading and Writing Instruction. A few years later I earned a second Master's Degree in Education at Cambridge College. In the classroom my goals are to help students find authors and genres they love to read, reveal the techniques of good writing so that students can become talented writers themselves, light a passion for learning about the world they live in and share that information with others, become part of a respectful learning community that looks forward to sitting around a table with a group of peers participating in lively and thoughtful discussions, develop good habits of working and learning, and gain confidence and a belief that they can do amazing things.
My wife and I live in South Berwick and our property abuts Vaughan Woods State Park, where we can often be found walking our dog Addie. We have three grown children who now call Santa Monica, Boston, and South Portland home. The times I most cherish are the rare ones when we are together. I enjoy running, hiking, biking, camping, reading, cooking, traveling, and landscaping. This is a picture of me standing with my wife atop Mt. Major overlooking Alton Bay in New Hampshire.
I began teaching in 1983. Many things have changed in education since that time, but one thing that has not changed is my passion for teaching. As the end of each August approaches, I am sorry to see another Maine summer pass, but I look forward to meeting the next group of young sixth graders as they come down the hall into our classroom. My first teaching position was overseas at The American School of Guatemala. I spent two wonderful years there. That's where I met my wife, and I say that I took one of the best parts of Guatemala home with me.
When I returned to the USA, I took a teaching position at York Middle School. I've been here ever since! I feel lucky to teach in the town of York. Parents are supportive of education and have high expectations. Wanting to improve my craft as a teacher, I studied at UNH and earned a Master's Degree in Reading and Writing Instruction. A few years later I earned a second Master's Degree in Education at Cambridge College. In the classroom my goals are to help students find authors and genres they love to read, reveal the techniques of good writing so that students can become talented writers themselves, light a passion for learning about the world they live in and share that information with others, become part of a respectful learning community that looks forward to sitting around a table with a group of peers participating in lively and thoughtful discussions, develop good habits of working and learning, and gain confidence and a belief that they can do amazing things.
My wife and I live in South Berwick and our property abuts Vaughan Woods State Park, where we can often be found walking our dog Addie. We have three grown children who now call Santa Monica, Boston, and South Portland home. The times I most cherish are the rare ones when we are together. I enjoy running, hiking, biking, camping, reading, cooking, traveling, and landscaping. This is a picture of me standing with my wife atop Mt. Major overlooking Alton Bay in New Hampshire.