Teacher of the YearIn the fall of 2018, I was selected as the 2019 Montana Teacher of the Year. Click here to see my profile video done by the Montana Office of Public Instruction or here for the Missoulian article. This honor brought me to Google Headquarters, the Oval Office of the White House, and the Superdome during the NCAA Championship Game, among other places (check out the slide show!)
EDucation and ExperienceThis is my eighth year at Bonner School. I received my Bachelor's of Arts in History Education from South Dakota State University in 2008. After receiving my degree, I taught middle school social studies for three years at a rural school in South Dakota, where I became head of the History Department and was voted Teacher of the Year.
From 2011-2013, I taught history at the University of Montana. After two years, I was awarded my Master's of Arts in History (pictured above with my family). My research dealt with the use of Native American languages in educational settings. I am also a published historical author. FamilyI grew up all over South Dakota. I am the middle child of three boys. In 2011, shortly before moving to Montana, I married my wife Keturah, who is also a teacher.
When my wife and I are not teaching, we enjoy a lot of outdoor activities, especially biking, hiking, swimming, and camping. I also enjoy playing guitar and reading books about history, though I always enjoy a good fictional novel. I have two young sons. |
Teaching PhilosophyI believe that with high expectations and the right support, all students are capable of excellence. It is my first priority to know each and every student so I can best serve their needs as a young scholar and help them on their path to become life-long learners. I believe in teaching skills, fostering independence, and encouraging curiosity in students instead of demanding a "one-size-fits-all" education that is more about memorization than understanding and creation. It is my job to provide a meaningful, useful, engaging, and relevant education to all students, no matter who they are. Doing anything less than my best is unacceptable. I am here for the students and their families, and am always happy to share more about my philosophy if you are curious. Watch the videos below for a brief snippet of my character as a teacher and example of an 8th grade lesson (created at Google Headquarters during my Teacher of the Year tour).
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