Why did you choose education as your major?
History is my passion. I always knew that I would do something associated with history. Teaching seemed like a natural fit.

Who was your favorite childhood teacher and did they influence you?
My high school journalism teacher, Julia Gregg had a great influence on me. She taught me to write in a clear and concise way and helped me through some tough times in high school. As far as my love of history, I can’t explain it. I didn’t have a history teacher that turned me onto history. I can’t remember not being interested in history. It may have started when dad took me arrow-head hunting in the fields around my house as a kid. I also think my trip to Lincoln boyhood when I was about 8 years old really planted some history seeds.

Who is your biggest influence in your personal life?
Probably my parents. My dad fostered my love of history by taking me to Willard library and historic building when I was young. My mom is a teacher and I think that influenced me a lot too.

Why did you pick USI?
To be honest, it was a pick of convenience. I spent my freshman year at IU. It just wasn’t the right fit for me. It was too far from home and I spent all my money in the first year. I tell me students all the time that USI is a great value. It is like any university, you get out what you put in. You can party and waste money at any college or you can meet people, learn, and prepare yourself for the future at any college. USI is no different.

What do you like the best about USI?
It was a place where I could shine. Because of the smaller classes, I was able to develop a relationship with my professors and get involved in the history community while I was still in college. I was also able to live at home and work. This allowed me to graduate without any student loans hanging over my head

What was your favorite college course?
Darrell Bigham’s Civil War America

What was your first job as a teacher?
In the fall of 1995, I started teaching at Central High School in Evansville in the same room where I student taught. I had World history and U.S. History classes and had to be the Reserve Cheer Sponsor (not a good fit)

What are you teaching now?
I teach Honors U.S. History and Feel the History, a class in which the students make history documentaries that air on our local PBS station. You can check out our work at feelthehistory.com

What kind of teacher are you?
What makes history interesting is not a big text book. History is most interesting when it is something you can touch and feel. I try to bring real history to my students. I use primary documents, first had accounts, as well as lots of local tie- ins to Evansville.

What inspires you as an educator?
Probably the kids. Then they are really excited about something that we are doing, I feed off of their excitement. Historians like David McCullough, Douglas Brinkley, and Harold Holzer inspire me to learn and become a better teacher too. I’m hooked on CSPAN booknotes.

What is your dream job (no limits)? And your dream job as an educator?
Dream Job – Probably a park ranger or hunting guide out west or an interpreter at a site like Gettysburg battlefield or Fords Theater. Educator dream job – I’m pretty happy where I am. I don’t ever see myself as a principal or upper level administrator because it doesn’t have anything to do with history. History is what drives me. The only thing that would be good about moving up the ladder is the better pay. Money isn’t everything.

What else do you do outside teaching with your school?
I love to spend time outdoors and visit historic sites and museums. I spend my summers on the river or on the road in search of history. In the fall, I spend as much time as possible in the woods, deer hunting. My spring is taken up by track and field. I’m the Assistant Men’s Track Coach at Reitz. I also love sports, football and baseball are probably my favorites.