I began teaching in October of 2001.  Before, Salt Lake Arts Academy, I taught three years in Granite District.  I previously taught 1st, 5th, and 7th and 8th grade Math in Granite.  I taught first grade at Stansbury Elementary, taught 5th grade at Lake Ridge Elementary, and taught 7th and 8th grade Math at Granite Park Middle School.    

 

I am originally from upstate NY.  I received my Bachelor's degree in Math and Secondary Math Education from Syracuse University with a minor in drama.  I also received my Master's degree in Elementary Education at Syracuse University.

  

While at Syracuse University, I was selected to be the school's mascot, Otto the Orange.  As Otto, I was able meet professional mascots in Orlando, Florida for the Celebrity Mascot Games and decided to pursue professional mascotting right after graduating from college.  I was offered a middle school math teaching job in upstate, New York but while I was still young, I really wanted to be a professional mascot first before I would use my teaching degrees.  So, I portrayed Herbie the Bulldog in Trenton, New Jersey for the Trenton Stars, a former International Basketball League team.  After Trenton, I was made aware of a WNBA job opening in Utah and became Fox, the Starzz mascot for two seasons.  During the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, I was Copper the Coyote.  Once the Starzz left for San Antonio, I became Zing, the Salt Lake Stingers mascot part time while teaching at the Salt Lake Arts Academy.

 

I love teaching at Salt Lake Arts Academy.  The students are motivated to learn, the problem based curriculum that we use in Math is exciting and engaging, and I love the arts!  In my classroom, I definitely attempt to make learning math fun by incorporating my silliness into it.  I love math puns and cute ways of learning math material.  For example I may tell a student, " You are such an average student."  The student replies back to me, "How Mean!"  I believe some of my silliness is somewhere on social media for my corny Pirate sounding skit about area of circles- Pies are squared?  In my classroom, I may floss, dab, or even do the Armstrong if a student gets something right or has a really good answer about something.  One of my strengths as an educator is caring.  I take it personally when students are struggling so I try to find ways to help them either through emails with parents, general talk with them, adjust expectations about homework, and even invite them to stay after school for help.  My teaching philosophy uses the theme song from the sitcom Friends "I'll be there for you!"

 

I have a wife and two daughters.  In my free time, I love playing all sports.  In particular, I love bowling, pickleball, cornhole, tennis, softball, football, and kickball.  I also love the outdoors.  In particular I love the smell of the outdoors when I'm in the mountains either camping or hiking.  

 

Here are some of my other favorites:

 

Food: Lasagna

Drink: Pepsi

Movie: Mrs. Doubtfire

Book: Tuesdays with Morrie

Restaurant: Olive Garden

Pet: Rabbits

Season: Fall

Color: Blue

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Utah Jazz, Syracuse Orange

Cereals: Fruity Pebbles and Life

 

One of the most memorable moments for students that enter my classroom is the big Pi Day Celebration that we have on or around March 14.  Every year I'm amazed at the number of digits students have memorized of the irrational number Pi.  In fact, since 2009, there are about 18 students that have recited over 100 digits of Pi.  Their names are listed on my 100 Pi Club Poster in my classroom.  

 

I typically teach in Room 203.  Feel free to stop in and say hello!