I grew up in Oakdale and graduated high school from Tartan H.S.
After high school, I served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years as a nuclear reactor operator. I attended Navy Nuclear Power School and then served onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), including two deployments to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.
I earned my bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics education from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. I earned a master's degree in education at St. Mary's University.
I live in Forest Lake with my wife Stephanie, my daughter Molly, and our dog Daisy. I also have two older daughters who are grown up and out in the world pursuing their dreams.
I enjoy growing vegetables in our backyard garden, and play in a softball league with some friends every year. I am an avid mountain biker and enjoy biking year-round. I enjoy reading fiction and non-fiction and usually have at least a couple books going at any one time. I grow lots of houseplants on our porch in the summer, and you'll see many of them in the classroom during wintertime. I'm also a gamer - I enjoy playing yard games in the summer and board/computer games in the winter with family and friends. I like to backpack and canoe as well, and I've made many trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
I taught science at Century Junior High in Forest Lake from 2006-2016. In 2016, I was offered the opportunity to teach and start the FabLab program at Chippewa Middle school. It was a difficult decision to leave my teaching position at Century but I am excited for the professional growth opportunities I will have in the Mounds View school district. I have been teaching at Chippewa Middle School since the fall of 2016.
I take my teaching career very seriously, and I am always striving to improve. I welcome any constructive feedback you may have for me!
