About Me
Education
I am a graduate of Michigan State University (MSU) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. I am currently pursuing my Master's degree from Michigan State in Educational Technology. I received my teaching certificate from MSU with a History (CC) and Social Studies (RX) endorsement in 2012. While at MSU, I minored in Political Science and took a broad and diverse amount of courses.
Spartan Marching BandWhile at MSU, I was a member of the Spartan Marching Band, SMB. I participated in SMB, for 4 years and was a 2-year squad leader. Throughout my time in the SMB I learned many things both in leadership, relationships, and responsibility. As a leader in the SMB, I was responsible for teaching new members marching fundamentals, uniform rules, and a long historic tradition of excellence. I was also responsible for a 4-person squad on the field. This squad would perform a series of marching moves on the field and would have to move independently in order to fit into the marching formation of the band of 300. Spartan Marching Band taught me accountability and how to balance a rigorous schedule of music & drill rehearsal with academics. I met some amazing people and life long friends in the SMB. Along with all the positive things I have already listed about the SMB, I was also able to perform on the field at every home MSU football game in front of 75,000+ screaming fans. One of the best and most exciting experiences I will ever have. Go Green!
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Great games at Spartan Stadium! |
Professional Life
While returning to Owosso in the summer of 2009, I took advantage of working as a supervisor in a summer youth program headed by Baker College of Owosso. I was responsible for leading a team of 6 workers at completing tasks and setting individual goals for each. This program involved working with “at-risk” young adults in a Shiawassee County Park. To meet the status of at-risk a student must have one of the following qualifications: criminal background, impoverished, single parent, or minority. This was a “Michigan Works!” Program, which had multiple goals. One goal was to improve a county park: landscaping projects, raking leaves, mowing, trimming, and creating trails. The second goal was even more important than the first. The second goal was the goal of Baker College and it involved teaching these “at-risk” youth work ethic, job skills, healthy relationships, time management, positive attitudes, and setting and achieving attainable goals. This program taught me a great deal about the individual struggles some students go through on a daily basis. I also learned how to manage a diverse group of individuals that had vastly different backgrounds than me. My team was very successful at improving the park and also had many successful students achieve their summer goals and become much more employable. I gained the respect of my staff by treating them with respect and giving them reachable goals and clear expectations. I was able to use creative approaches to solving problems and got to build relationships with each member on my staff. This experience was invaluable in my professional life and teaching experience.
Community
During the summertime of my college years I would always return to my hometown of Owosso. Giving back to the community is very important to me. I have participated in five community plays with Owosso Community Players (OCP): 4 as a Trumpet player in the pit orchestra and 1 as an actor this past summer. I have also worked as a tutor and mentor to youth. I have given trumpet lessons to local youth and also been assistant coach for little league baseball. I am passionate about helping people and guiding youth to take pride in their community.
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Pictures from various OCP's productions |
Student Teaching
In 2011-2012, I student taught at St. Johns High School in St. Johns, Michigan. My mentor teacher was David Mariage. He was an excellent mentor and gave me the space and support I needed to become an effective educator. I taught economics and government to 11th grade students throughout an entire year of extensive teaching experience. I learned a lot during this year about how to manage a classroom, how to reach all students, how to lesson plan, how to build relationships, and how to motivate students to want to learn your content.
Family and Interests
Family is very important to me. My wife, Shelby, is extremely loving and supportive and has been so important to my success in my career.
I am very close with my parents and they have guided me and been excellent role models throughout my life. They have always supported me in whatever I chose to do. I am also close with my two siblings. I have an older sister, Amber, that set the standard of being a good person and good student. She graduated from Baker College with an Associates Degree and encouraged me to go on to college and get a degree. We play in a singing duo around the community called "Quist 2". She has also been a great personal advisor and has really done things the right way. I have a younger brother, Luke that I have a lot in common with. We both have an interest in sports and in music. He is currently working on his bachelor's degree at MSU as well.
My personal interests include: learning new instruments, playing guitar, playing piano, attending MSU athletic events, watching college football, watching college basketball, watching the Detroit Tigers, playing golf, swimming, summertime activities, boating, going up north, community theater, watching action movies, general fitness, philosophy, politics, and playing with my dog.