I settled into New Castle just after college and taught math and science at Bridges High School in Carbondale for 8 years. I spent my weekends and summers bartending and working construction to make ends meet. I also served on the Interest Based Bargaining Committee for several years, working with teachers, administrators and the Re-1 school board to negotiate contracts and calendars.
Determined to make a life in New Castle, I enrolled in the (then) new, CU mechanical engineering program at CMU. I married an elementary school teacher, bought a rundown cabin, and had a son. I worked to build a new career and make that cabin into a home.
I work as a Building Control Engineer, designing and maintaining commercial scale lighting controls and energy monitoring systems. I joined this company 10 yrs ago as a startup and it has been my job to scale the operations in order to meet ever changing technologies and expectations. We are now in 900 facilities with a team of 10. A small but nimble team, we do a lot with a little.
I no longer travel for work and the house is complete, so I have more time than ever to dedicate to my family and community.
Education is very important to me and my family. My wife Heidi has been teaching elementary in Re-2 for 18 years. The school board is a great place for me to get back into education with a broader view and skillset.
I am running for Re-2 school board because I think I can help. We have a Strategic Plan for the district in place, and it is time to be laser focused on executing that plan.
Re-2 has very limited resources, ranking 166 out of 178 Colorado districts for per pupil funding. We have neither the time nor money to waste.
We have dedicated, hardworking teachers and staff who need the school board and community as a whole to support them. With any team of professionals, the best thing leaders can do is steer toward a common goal, provide as much support as possible and remove any bottle necks on the path to achieving that goal.
Everyone wants higher test scores and the best educational outcomes. Maximizing our current resources is key in the now. A long-term plan to properly fund a thriving school district is essential for the long-term wellbeing of this community.
I would love to see more Spanish language, STEM, and Trade programs in the district. We need more support for special education, English language learners and under privileged families. The reality is these all take money and staffing that the district does not yet have.
Let’s rally together as a community and elevate our schools to the next level.
Degrees:
Colorado Teaching Credentials: (expired)
Work Experience:
10 years teaching, mostly in Re-1, Roaring Fork Schools.
Director of Operations overseeing ~$9million in projects.
Small time fabricator, see my work in Riverside Middle School Library.
