Education:

• 1996- Wyoming Valley West High School, Plymouth, PA
• 2000- The Pennsylvania State University, BS Elementary Education K-6 with honors
• 45 graduate credits in related fields

Work Experience:

• 6th grade - Park Forest Middle School, 22nd year (have taught all subjects, math/science, and now Ac Lit) 
• Disc Jockey, Nittany Entertainment, 2006 - present
• Penn State Action Potential Science Camp teacher, 2007
• 4th-5th grade Summer Program teacher, 2005 & 2006
• 5th grade intern, 1999-2000, Park Forest Elementary School
• Intramural coaching, Corl St. and Park Forest Elementary Schools, 1998-2000, PFMS 2001- present

Educational Interests:

• Helping all students reach their potential
• Teaching the whole child, including ensuring students learn their responsibilities as a student and a citizen
• Making math meaningful to students
• Awakening the inner-scientist in every child and helping them realize how science is used all around us, and continues to evolve as we study and learn more
• Making all students discover that they will like to read if they get the right books in their hands
  
• Local History, American History, and World Cultures
• Teaching students to become good writers, readers, listeners, and speakers; especially connecting students with "just right" books and making them realize that there's lots of great things out there to read, no matter what your experience so far!
  

Philosophy: If you think you can, you will. If you think you can't, you won't. It's your choice. It's that simple. Believe in yourself!

Quotes:

• "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." -Albert Einstein
• “The man who does not read great books is no better than the man who can’t.” -Mark Twain
• " All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney
• "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right." -Henry Ford
• "I try the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on going until the end." -Abraham Lincoln.
• "No legacy is so rich as honesty." -William Shakespeare
• "Because reading has more impact on students’ achievement than any other activity in school, setting aside time for reading must be the first activity we teachers write on our lesson plans, not the last."- Donalyn Miller in The Book Whisperer
  

Memberships:

• State College Area Education Association
• Pennsylvania State Education Association
• National Education Association
• Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education
  
• Penn State Alumni Association, Life Member
• Nittany Lion Club
• Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church and Choir

Personal Interests:

• Music of all sorts - especially listening to a variety of rock and country, singing, and playing the piano and keyboard. I DJ Weddings as a side job. 
• Photography
• The outdoors - especially kayaking, hiking, bicycling, whitewater rafting, and mountain biking
• Doing sports - tennis, rollerblading, skiing, golf, and basketball
• Watching or listening to sports - Penn State football and basketball, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins, Altoona Curve, State College Spikes
  
• Coaching- I most recently coached a team in the 3rd/ 4th grade division of CRPR Flag Football Leauge. I coached State College Little League T-Ball the 2015 & 2016 seasons. I also coached my sons' t-ball team at their preschool, Nittany Christian, and I coached my son's Centre Soccer teams in 2013 and 2016.  I coached a Major League for Little League baseball team in Halfmoon Little League from 2001- 2007.
• I play softball for the St. Paul's Saints. 
  
• Drawing - especially cityscapes
• Cooking and baking
• Walking with my family and playing with our Golden Retriever, Ella

Family:

• Married to the former Jennifer Bauer-Instructional coach at MNE and Radio Park
• I love spending time, learning, and playing with my three sons: Nate (9th gr.), Nick (7th gr.), and Noah (5th gr.)
  
• Younger sister Kim lives in Brooklyn with her husband Josh and their son Theo, and sheworks as a writer and editor at Scholastic Magazines
  

My family along with my parents

My wife, Jen, and me celebrating our 10th Anniversary in July, 2016

Our new Lab puppy, Finn, left, and our Golden Retriever Ella: late June, 2020