Position:  Senior Marine Instructor, Ruskin High School Marine Corps JROTC (SMI, RHS MCJROTC). The official title of the program in our district is "Leadership Education". The program is designed for 9th-12th graders with the stated mission of "To develop character and citizenship in the youth of America".  

Years of teaching experience:  Started full-time at Ruskin HS on 1 February 2012.

Area of expertise:  Leadership Education, Military History, Physical Fitness, Life Skills.

Why I chose education as my [2nd] career of choice:  I am service oriented. After serving almost 30 years in the Marine Corps, I looked for a second career that I could serve again. Teaching was a logical choice. Although I had originally planned on teaching at the elementary level (having actually enrolled in a certification program), I changed course as I realized that my previous skills, knowledge and expertise would be better served as a MCJROTC instructor.  

Personal interests:  Watching and playing sports (although my playing days have been limited since becoming an instructor), movies (mainly Sci-Fi and current crop of comic book) and everything I do with the cadets and my daughter (and I'm proud to say she is in her third year at a math teacher at Lee's Summit HS as of School Year 2018-2019). 

Military personal awards:  Legion of Merit Medal (LOM), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM), Meritorious Service Medal (w/3 Gold Stars) (MSM), Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM)

Education award:  Ruskin High School Building Teacher of the Year for School Year 2017-2018 

RHS MCJROTC Facebook:  Ruskin HS Mcjrotc