bio

I was born in Watford, England (just north of London), to working class parents. My father left school at fourteen to apprentice in the printing trade and my mother worked various office jobs. When I was five my parents gave up their careers, and the big city, to move to the coast and run a small bed and breakfast and a few years later a much larger one. My childhood was spent playing on beaches, cliffs and forests during the summer and having the run of a small hotel all winter.

I was a bright student, but not necessarily a good student at school. However I did finish (the English equivalent) of high school with Math, Physics and Chemistry qualifications. From there I went on to Nottingham University to study Mining Engineering, including a summer spent working in a coal mine! After graduating (second class degree, with honors) I went to work for a consulting company in the oil industry. We provided computing, monitoring and geological services to the major oil companies on their exploration oil rigs. Most of my time was spent offshore in the North Sea.

After I met my wife, I decided to go back to college and re-train to become a teacher. I spent a year studying at Exeter University in their teacher training program. It was here that I finally discovered the true value of getting an education and being a good student, not just a smart one. I completed my teaching program with specializations in Physics, Science and Geography.

I was lucky to be offered the first teaching position I applied for, as it was in the same town that my wife worked in and we could commute together. The school was pretty large (about 1500 students in five grades) and I taught all five grades during the three years I was there. In England we teach all subjects little and often over a number of years, rather than concentrate the teaching into semester blocks. I also coached boys field hockey and trampolining.

In 1997 we decided that it was time for my wife to return home and so we took the plunge and headed over the Atlantic and back to Washington State. My first year here was spent teaching 7th grade Life and 8th grade Earth science in the Steilacoom school district. I also coached girls JV soccer.

From there I accepted a position at Charles Wright Academy, a private school in Tacoma. There I was responsible for re-writing the 7th grade grade science curriculum, turning it into a Physical Science and Health class, to better meet the needs of the students and school. I was an advisor for 10-13 students each year, helping them with their studies, providing community service opportunities for them and chaperoning them on various trips and camps. I coached the varsity MS girls soccer team, winning 3 league titles in 6 years, the JV slowpitch team for 2 years and the JV fastpitch team for two years. I also presented at two NW regional Independent school conferences. Between 2000-02 I attended Western Washington University where I gained my Masters degree in Science Education.

The final leg of my teaching journey led me to CJH in 2004. In my first three years here I've coached JV and V fastpitch, taught Physical and Earth science and Math. Ms. Aker and myself have worked hard to put together a Physical science curriculum that is not only WASL relevant but also interesting and fun. We have overseen the introduction of a 9th grade Honors Science class and in 2006 started CJH's first science club (which has now morphed in to Pond Watch). I have recently finished the National Board Professional Teaching Certification process and I am waitng to hear whather I certified or not.