I have been teaching 6th grade for thirteenth year. I recently completed my Masters degree in Instructional Design and Technology at Concordia University Chicago in the summer of 2017 and earned my Bachelors degree in Elementary Education at Quincy University in 2008. I grew up in Quincy for the first 12 years of my life, Then moved to Columbus, Il and attended Central Jr High, then moved again to Pawnee where I attended Pawnee High School, 20 miles south of Springfield. In March of 2000, I got married. I have 5 children and 6 grandchildren that I enjoy spending my free time with. I also enjoy watching and playing many sports. I have had the opportunity to drive a Nascar car at 160 mph, which was awesome! I like traveling to places I've never been, my wife, kids and I have visited almost 40 of the 50 states, Including Alaska which is beautiful in the SUMMER. We plan to get to all 50 soon. My wife is LeeAnn, my children are Jarod-28, Mackenzie-26, Skylar-20, Heath-20 and Noah-18, my grandchildren are McKinley-11, Austin-10, Greyson-9, Sawyer-8, Lennox-3 and Zypher-1. And the family dog, Shadow. Before and during my time in college I spent 13 years in the US Army with a deployment to Iraq in February 2004-February 2005, after completing my Bachelors degree I switched from an enlisted soldier to an Officer.