MR. CARROLL’S TOP 10 FAVORITES LIST

1. Dog: Minature Schnauzer
2. Music: 80's pop
3. Car: Hybrid
4. Vacation: Anywhere warm and sunny
5. Color: Blue
6. Hobby: Digital video editing
7. Food: Tacos
8. Drink: Coffee
9. Cause: Rapid Transit
10. Humor: Puns
    

My Interests

I love to read, play the piano, go scuba diving, and travel around the world. I especially enjoy working on the yard of my home. I dabble in digital video and web page design. I enjoy golf but my game borders on the grotesque. I like to spend weekends on the Washington coast or with my family in Portland.

Education & History

It all started at a little public school in El Cajon, CA. I learned to love school during the elementary years. Middle school introduced me to the term "popularity" (which I lacked). High school was somewhat better. After graduation, I took a break from school and set out to create a life of my own. At the tender age of 18 I had a full time job, and an apartment of my own -- moving from the ‘burbs to the big city of San Diego.

In 1987, after establishing a solid reputation as predictable and cautious, I threw all sanity aside and moved to Seattle on a whim. It was here that I returned to school, attending Seattle University and graduating magna cum laude with a BA in History and Liberal Studies. Later I achieved my Master’s degree in teaching and a certificate from the same institution. The result is a massive load of student loan debt, and a career I finally love. I was an Instructional Assistant for two years. I have been a certified teacher since 1999. I have been teaching at Stevens since 2001.

Philosophy of Teaching

Education is the foundation of freedom. All personal, professional, and political choices we make are guided by the thinking skills we learn in school and the values absorbed from our parents. I believe all children deserve an education free from prejudice and low expectations. I am a strict teacher who demands the best from each child, but is always fair. As a professional, I seek to adjust my teaching to the needs of the children. Thus, you will often find me running in five different directions at once.

Parents are the first and most important teachers. You can reinforce what we learn at school in the following ways:

• Read with your child regularly.
• Supervise his/her homework.
• Ask about school activities every day.
• Limit exposure to television and the mass media.
• Enrich your child's life through museums, sports, music and nature.
• Avoid overscheduling your child.
• Communicate regularly with your child's teacher (i.e join my E-mail group).

In return, I will communicate openly and regularly with you. I'll challenge your child to excel, accommodate his/her abilities and disabilities, and nurture his/her self-esteem. Finally, I will also reflect on my instructional methods, change and adapt whenever possible, conduct myself as an ethical professional and always keep an open mind for your concerns and involvement.

Classroom Style

I try my best to be organized and maintain a text rich atmosphere in the classroom. Students work as individuals, buddies, and on small teams. I incorporate my quirky sense of humor into the daily work in an effort to bond with the children. We have noisy times, silent times, and everything in between. I teach and expect all students to practice appropriate "self-management" skills, including:

• Honesty
• Hard work
• Respect for all things
• Self Discipline
• Community Responsibility
• Tolerance of differences