Dear St. Paul Community,

I am so excited to be starting my 3rd year in the SPASH Community! This is my 16th year as a professional educator and my second international school. As the high school principal, I am responsible for ensuring our high school students and staff have meaningful and engaging educational experiences in a rigorous and supportive environment. This is my 10th year as a school administrator. I have previous principal or assistant principal and athletic director experience in three other schools prior to joining St. Paul.

I was born and raised in the state of Nebraska in the United States. I went to a small rural high school and participated in a number of sports and extracurricular activities. I played three years of American Football at a small university but was not sure what I wanted to do as a career. I left university and worked a number of different jobs including joining the Nebraska Army National Guard. I served 8 years part time as a helicopter avionics mechanic and went back to university to become a teacher, following in the footsteps of both my parents who were long-serving teachers in my hometown.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Nebraska-Omaha earning a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with certifications for Social Sciences and Coaching grades 7-12. I then taught high school social studies for six years as well as coaching boys and girls basketball and American football. As my career progressed, I earned two advanced degrees from Wayne State College including a Master of Science in Education with 7-12 Principal certification. Finally, I earned an Education Specialist degree which certifies me to be in any administrative position PK-12th grades including head of school.

I have a wonderful wife of almost 18 years named Stephanie who is a high school social studies teacher here at SPASH. I met this wonderful woman 19 years ago having never traveled internationally nor been on a commercial airplane. Since then, we have traveled internationally to over 25 different countries, along with living in Morocco and working at an American international school there for four years before moving to Hanoi. I am so blessed and thankful to have her in my life along with our dog Luna, who has now lived on three continents, and our younger dog Spike, who we rescued from the streets of Hanoi. In my free time I enjoy spending time with Stephanie and our dogs, reading, working out, and traveling.

I am honored to serve the St. Paul community. I look forward to getting to know and work with you this year.

Go Eagles!