I am excited for the 2020-2021 school year. I am a graduate of the College of William and Mary for both my B.A. in Government and M.Ed. in Secondary Education.  After graduating from college, I worked for a DC law firm but eventually found my calling in education.  In 1994, my wife and I moved to NC and I began teaching 8th grade Social Studies.  The curriculum then was focused on NC History and, as a Virginian, I had quite a bit of state history to learn after Sir Walter Raleigh and the Wright Brothers.  After 11 years of teaching 8th grade and History Bowl teams, I joined the NC Department of Public Instruction as a Middle Grades Social Studies Consultant.  Although working at NCDPI was professionally rewarding, I missed the daily interaction with students.  Since returning in 2008, I have taught 6-7-8th grades Language Arts and Social Studies. My wife and I have four daughters including a college graduate and a rising junior.  My twins are rising seniors in high school. Our focus is on them and I understand the challenges of balancing academics with family life and after school activities.  Personally, I enjoy jogging, live music, Civil War battlefield visits, and Tarheel basketball.