After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute and serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy, I began my teaching career at the Blue Ridge School in 1983. While at BRS, I taught chemistry, earth science, and physical science and coached lacrosse, cross country, indoor track, and wrestling. I moved on to Natural Bridge High School for one year in 1985 where I taught physics, earth science, and
general mathematics. I was also the junior varsity head football coach and served as an assistant varsity basketball coach for an outstanding NBHS basketball team. While in the Lexington area, I also had the opportunity to serve as an assistant lacrosse coach under Doug Bartlett at VMI. From 1986 through 1998, I taught biology, A.P. Biology, and chemistry at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Virginia. I spent eight years of that time coaching football at AHS under Howdy Mack. After serving as an assistant varsity lacrosse coach in 1987, I became the head lacrosse coach at AHS from 1988-90 before stepping down for military service obligations. I again served as head lacrosse coach for the last half of the 1994 season after the previous coach resigned, mentoring that team into the playoffs. From 1998-2009, I was the Science Instructional Coordinator for the Albemarle County Public Schools. I oversaw science curriculum development and implementation for grades K-12 for sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and four high schools. I also developed the foundational concept that became the Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) at AHS. During my years as an instructional coordinator, I was best known for integrating technology into educational settings and for developing quality professional development for teachers. My summer laboratory school known as the Odyssey Academy won the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition’s “Programs That Work” award in 2009. In 2009, I returned to Albemarle High School to teach biology and chemistry. Over the next six years, I taught mostly honors biology and some chemistry, but also enjoyed the chance to teach biology to ELL (English Language Learners) students, including several refugee Iraqi students. I also served as the Lead Biology Teacher, primarily focused on utilizing diagnostic assessment to identify “at risk” students within the first few weeks of the academic year. I retired from Albemarle County Public Schools in 2015. I moved on to teach chemistry and once again coach lacrosse at the Blue Ridge School that same year. I eventually took on numerous other roles, including Duty Captain, Science Department Chairperson, and Instructional Technology Coordinator. In addition, I coached lacrosse after 25 years away from the game. I am also proud of my long career in the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program, medically retiring as a Commander in 2001 due to service connected illness. My wife and I are now empty nesters as our four children, all who attended ACPS schools, now have their own places. Even so, our house is still neither clean nor quiet as we have two dogs and three cats, which keep us on our toes.
