I have
the best job in the world. I get to teach math all day. That may
sound funny to you, but it's the best for me. When I first began
teaching, I was just six years older than some of my students.
20 years later, along with 20 pounds and a full head of grey
hair (and no mullet), I still love my job. I have taught over
3000 students at all levels of math from 7th grade through AP
high school mathematics. Somehow, still, it gets better.
I earned my
degree in mathematics from CSU Chico. I paid for most of my
education back then as a firefighter for the California
Department of Forestry (CDF) and the United States Forest
Service (USFS). I also obtained several student loans that took
many years to pay off I remember. Along with my teaching
credential, I earned my Masters in Education through Grand
Canyon University. I also have a degree in Forestry and was a
counselor and coached the Mathcounts team to many
regional awards for several years at Winston Churchill Middle
School.
I came from a
family of educators. My father taught at Woodland High School
for over 30 years. My mother was a special education teacher in
Woodland for almost 40 years. My grandparents were teachers. My
sister and her husband even teach in Southern California. My dad
often jokes of where he went wrong with us.
I have been
lucky enough to receive awards as The Most Influential
Teacher multiple times, the prestigious Teacher of the
Year award, and have been represented in Who's Who in
America's Teachers. The Sacramento County Office of
Education (SCOE) even came out to BV to interview me to
encourage college students to go into teaching. (Google "John
Bullock high school math teacher" to see a dorky video of this.)
Bella Vista High
School was my home for the past 11 years. Before that was
Winston Churchill Middle School, Rio Americano High School, and
way back, once upon a time was Gridley High School. I have
taught summer school at numerous locations in the San Juan
district as well. This year I wanted to try something new. So
I voluntarily transferred to teach mathematics at Del Campo High
School. I love my new assignment too.
I have served on the
leadership roles of Site Base, textbook selection committees,
adapting curriculum for Special Education, a ACA DECA speech
judge for Yolo County, test writing committees for the state and
the district (this past summer), the famous Bella Vista
Chain Gang crew, and served as the math department chair at
BV for nine years. I have taught SAT prep classes at multiple
locations over the past ten years through three different
companies.
Mike Berry
and I have decided to put together a unique SAT prep class that
virtually all other companies cannot offer, we both currently
are San Juan Unified high school teachers that are actually in
the classroom teaching these subjects everyday. We know and
understand the dynamics of the classroom and what teenagers are
expected to know for these tests. Plus, the price you will pay
is hundreds less than those other companies.
I am sure you
will be pleased with what we have to offer.
Oh, and welcome.
:-)
At 29, I have been teaching for
9 years. I began
substituting in the Sacramento area for all grades and all subjects beginning in
2000. I have a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from the
University of Nevada, Reno. I received many scholarships myself for my
work in high school as Student Body Vice-President, Debate Club President, and
Cross-Country Team Captain, all the while taking a most rigorous schedule
including 6 AP courses. I went to the National Debate Competition for an
oratory I wrote, and placed in numerous speech contests during my high school
years. My teaching credential was earned through Chapman University, and I
earned my Master's degree in Business Administration in 2005.