About Me

My passion for education came from two amazing women in my life. The first is my mother.  She was in the first grade when her family was forced to flee their home in North Korea. Even during the toughest of times on the Korean Peninsula, my mother's mom would tell her, "It's okay to skip a meal, but you cannot skip school." To my mom, education was not just about more opportunity; it was viewed as a doorway that would open to a lifetime of growth, personal responsibility, and learning. 

The second, was my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Thomas. Like other third-grade boys at that time, I was restless, inattentive, talkative, and on more than one occasion, sent home for being disruptive in class. Mrs. Thomas saw something in me and took the time to help me grow. Over the course of that school year, she inspired me to learn, read more, and sit still.  Many years later, as an adult, the password to some of my online accounts included her name.

Our classrooms today are filled with teachers like Mrs. Thomas. They care. They are dedicated. They are passionate. We need to do all we can to not only retain these teachers but to identify and bring more like them into our schools.

Our communities are filled with families who love their children and want the best for them. 

When we work together, with respect and understanding, we create an environment where students excel and are firmly placed on the pathway to a lifetime of growth, responsibility, and service.