I was born and raised in Sunnyvale, CA. I moved to San Diego for college and graduated from UCSD with a Bachelor's in Applied Mathematics. I enjoyed San Diego so much that I decided to stay. I earned my Secondary Clear Credential in Mathematics and started working at Wilson Middle School. During my five years there I did some work as department chair and earned my Master's in Education (Instruction and Curriculum) from SDSU. When Marshall opened I came onboard as a math teacher and department chair. Later I became the Mathematics Administrator and earned my Administrative Credential from USD and SDSU. Now I'm back in the classroom teaching.
When I'm not warping the minds of America's youth, I spend my time with my wife and two kids! The minute I get home each day it's, "Play with be Daddy! Play with me!" Fatherhood is the best!
Back in my LBK (life before kids), I enjoyed skiing, woodworking, rock climbing, Origami, motorcycle riding, bowling, poker, 3d printing, and traveling. Our last trip was to Asia (Singapore, Vietnam, Japan) and which crossed another continent off our list bringing our total to 6 out of 7. Next stop, Australia! My latest hobby is using my Glowforge laser cutter to create all sorts of fun thing.
I believe that all students can learn mathematics. I believe that math is not memorizing, but making sense of the math and building understanding. I believe in providing opportunities for exploration and discovery so that what students learn has meaning for them. Beyond the math, middle school is about transitioning students to becoming more independent and proactive about their learning. I believe that the family is a big part of a child's success in the classroom.
Favorite Quote: "I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who said, 'I drank what?'" ~Val Kilmer from the movie Real Genius