I was born in Grants Pass, Ore. My parents at the time lived on a mining claim above a small mining town in Northern California. I spent the first five years running around the hills on that mining claim. When it was time for me to get my public education, we moved to Crescent City (about ten miles south of the California-Oregon bordering the coast... Here is a link to the home page of my home county...
I spent all of my years growing up there, going through elementry school, junior high and on into high school. I liked it there and so did my friends but anyone that had not lived there did not like the school system. I was very involved in the music department there and toured extensively.
I graduated in 1995 from Del Norte High and decided to go to school at Humboldt State and become a music major. I graduated with a Bachelor of the arts in Music Education and a Minor in Computer Information Services in May of 2000. In the last few years I was shown how to do digital audio by a friend of mine and am now a pretty good recording tech. I finished my student teaching on June 22, 2001 and finally got my teachers credential in December of 2001. I received a Single Subjects Music Credential with a Supplementry Authorization to teach Computer Concepts and Applications
After graduating from college, I spent one year working as a computer technician for SoundChaser . By the end of that time period, I had worked my way up to being manager of production, but decided that I really wanted to go back to teaching.
In July of 2002, I got a teaching position at a small school district in Amanda Park, WA. Here is a map showing the location of the town. It is small and beautiful, just like the other places I have lived. Lake Quinault Schools is now where I spend most of my days teaching. I took a little time to take a few pictures of the area and some of the things I see on a regular basis.
After being part of the communityfor a while, I was asked to join the fire department and am havebeen president of the membership twice.
I currently teach k-6 general music, 5th and 6th grade band, Computer Applications, Multimedia Productions, 7-12th grade band. Enough students have been interested that I have been able to start a small jazz combo that meets before school.
For those interested, Here is a copy of my data sheet that was submitted with my professional file (This is a PDF.) and here is a copy of my teaching resume. Here is a copy of my regular resume so you can see some of the other things I have done.