Age: 48

School: Head O’ Meadow Elementary School

Marital Status: Married with two children: Amanda and Andrew.

Position: Fifth-grade teacher.

Years at Head O’ Meadow: Five and one-half

Education: Received undergraduate degree from Western Connecticut State University, and is in the process of finishing his masters at Sacred Heart University. He is also a graduate of the Commanding General Staff College, in the United States Army.

Residence: Newtown.

Background: Spent 25 years in the US Army Reserves, climbing his way up to the rank of Major, before leaving for the inactive reserves in 1997.

 

Reason for becoming a teacher: “It started in the military. I felt I had many things to offer students, to help put them on the right track, and take their education seriously.”

 

The key to successful teaching: “The key to being a successful teacher is making sure that the student does not learn to your teaching style, but you teach to the student’s learning style.”

Most memorable moment in teaching: “The most memorable is usually the last day of school when the kids come over and give you a big bear hug and say, ‘I’m going to miss you, I don’t want to leave,’ but you tell them they have to go. You’re like a contractor putting in a foundation.”

Interests: An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing, target shooting, camping, and hiking. He also devotes time to the Boy Scouts program.