What inspired you to go into your present field, and how did you come to be at Cambridgeport School?
It was a college professor who encouraged me to consider becoming a speech pathologist after taking her speech class as a communications major. Her interest in my future inspired me to enter the field. After moving to Boston following graduate school, I worked for several years at an educational collaborative and then at a marketing company. A dear friend who worked in Cambridge encouraged me to apply for a job as I was in transition, with my wife Ellen and two young daughters. Luck came my way as I was placed at Cambridgeport during the 1993 school year. By choice Cambridgeport has been my base and my work home during these years. How fortunate I have been.
What is the best part of your day?
No question that my favorite times of my workday are when I’m engaged with a group of children in my office or in the dynamic rhythm of a Cambridgeport classroom. I have had the privilege of working with many skilled colleagues, leaders, and committed professionals over these years. Cambridgeport has always been my choice because of the way children and families are embraced, nurtured, and honored.
What do you like to do afterschool?
When I leave the school you may find me hiking a wooded path on favorite conservation land with my dog Pepper. Or you’ll spot me in my kayak on the Sudbury River, casting flies to hungry bass. If you like the West – where my roots are – you will find me in Montana every summer fly-fishing for trout. Fishing has taken me to many local and faraway places. It has also directed me to a lifelong commitment in conservation and environmentalism. I’m a Pisces, so water and fish have probably led me to work for the preservation and restoration of cold-water habitats for many years.
Favorite Sports Team?
An athlete and lover of sports, I gradually have embraced the home teams here. They know how to win. Underneath it all I’ll have to admit that my allegiance lies with the Vikings and the Twins.
What is your favorite hobby?
Oh well. I love to cook, and we like good food in our home. Dining out with family and friends happens often. Art, music, theatre, dance, and culture have inspired my world here in the Boston area. I come from farms, ranches, cowboys, and cattle. Over the years I’ve become an urbanite and a true fan of Cambridge and Boston, now having lived here the majority of my adulthood. Anchoring me through these years, Cambridgeport has become a cherished place in my life and heart.