Over the last ten years I have taught at Thornhill Public School where I have taught a variety of subjects including science, geography, social studies, language arts, math, and physical education. I have taught all grades, but most of my teaching experiences focussed on grades four through eight, with homeroom classes in both the junior and intermediate divisions. I am Tribes trained and have been incorporating aspects of a cross-curricular, balanced literacy program.

My involvement in CASL (collaborative analysis of student learning) and peer coaching has focused my instruction with targeted learning goals, clear examples of strong and weak work, and descriptive feedback which assisted both at-risk students and guiding the entire class to continued success.

Following a trip to an outdoor education centre in 2001, I began the Aquademics program that educates students in all grades of our school in various subjects on the topics of fish and aquatic environments. The program has been a particular hit with the special needs students of the school and has acted as an incentive to students with behavioural issues. It also provides an excellent leadership opportunity for students to take responsibility for the aquatic creatures found in the classroom.

I have also developed the reputation as the resident “science guy” due to the fact that I usually taught all science classes for one division (in both junior and/or intermediate) and I would end up becoming most students’ science teacher for more than one year. Through the incorporation of Aquademics, design challenges, and trips to outdoor education centres around Ontario (Scanlon Creek, Milne Frost Centre, etc.), the science curriculum has truly come alive at Thornhill Public School (and when bunnies are born on school property, students now know what to do!).

I also work with Cadets Canada through the Canadian Armed Forces as an Army Officer where I am a training officer for the 142 St. Andrew’s College Highland Cadet Corps in Aurora. I am also a first aid and CPR instructor with the military. I also have worked as a flight commander and the deputy trade training officer with the athletics department aboard HMCS Ontario for the 160 cadets involved in athletics aboard the ship. For the last two summers I have been the Senior PERO (Physical Education and Recreation Officer) for the 500+ cadets aboard HMCS Ontario.

I have taught at Ballantrae P.S. for two year and am now teaching there for my third year.

I have a wife (Margaret) and two dogs (Poppy and Tails), and we enjoy travel and home improvement (as much as one can enjoy home improvement).