Together with my wife, Toni, and my son,
Lucas, I enjoy gardening, beekeeping, camping, and fishing. I’m
an avid birdwatcher and photographer. I enjoy sharing my passion
for birds, the outdoors, and authentic science with all of my
students.
During the fall of 1994, my students and
their parents constructed a bird feeding station across the
creek behind the school. We have been collecting bird data there
ever since! I believe that positive outdoor experiences, such as
observing birds from the blind, foster a sense of caring and
understanding for living things so rarely achieved within the
confines of the classroom.
I grew up in California where I graduated
from Rio Lindo Adventist Academy. While attending Walla Walla
University in College Place, Washington, I earned my teaching
certification. I completed my M.S. degree at Aurora University
in Illinois, and my B.S. degree through Lesley University in
Massachusetts while studying with the Audubon Expedition
Institute. In the summer of 2009 I began co-instructing the
distance-learning course, “BirdSleuth: Supporting Student
Inquiry” for teachers with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
My teaching duties include 6th
through 10th grade science, biology,
Bible, and photography classes. I also organize the annual
science fair and 9th and 10th grade marine
biology trip.
Click
to see my
BirdSleuth Ambassador story.
