[0:00] [Music] [0:10] Why did you want to be the principal of [0:12] Maple Grove Middle School? [0:14] Um, there's a lot of reasons why I [0:16] wanted to be the principal um here at [0:18] Maple Grove Middle School. I uh number [0:20] one, I used to be a student in the [0:22] district. I did not go to Maple Grove [0:24] Middle, but um being being able to come [0:27] back to the Ocio area schools was [0:29] something that I was really interested [0:30] in and so um that was a big piece of it. [0:33] I also have heard nothing but great [0:36] things about Maple Grove Middle School [0:38] and being able to be a part of that [0:40] success. Being able to lead um this [0:43] building is something that I really look [0:45] forward to. And um I also um I have two [0:50] kids myself and they're also in the [0:51] district and being able to be a [0:53] principal in the same school district as [0:55] my my own two kids is something that um [0:58] I I've always wanted to do and I I think [1:01] it it makes them proud and that's that's [1:03] something that means a lot to me. [1:06] Have you been a principal before? [1:08] Yes, I have been a principal before. [1:10] I've been in school administration for [1:13] the past I think this will be my eighth [1:15] year. Um this year between being an [1:18] assistant principal and a principal I've [1:20] been in Mountains View public schools [1:22] and then also Wisetta public schools. Um [1:25] so this will be my um fifth year as [1:29] principal of a school. [1:32] What do you like best about working at a [1:34] school? [1:35] Um I like being around all you guys. I [1:38] like being around the kids. um you give [1:40] me a lot of energy. It's a lot of fun [1:42] being able to work with kids and um [1:46] seeing how you come in as sixth graders [1:48] and how you exit at eighth graders. It's [1:50] a big difference. Um and it's something [1:52] that you really there's no other place [1:55] where you you get to do that. I also [1:57] think it's really cool that even just [1:59] the three of you one day the three of [2:01] you are going to be doing something [2:02] great in life and we get we get a chance [2:05] to be a part of that when you get to [2:07] work in schools. And so that's something [2:08] that is really cool. Middle school is [2:11] interesting because um it's right in the [2:13] middle and we don't necessarily get to [2:17] see what happens when you go to high [2:18] school or go to college or beyond or [2:20] whatever you end up doing, but we get to [2:22] be able to be a part of that those three [2:24] years. And um it those three years go by [2:27] fast, but it's really fun to do that. [2:29] What do you like to do when you're not [2:30] at work? [2:31] I like to do a lot of stuff. I like to [2:33] spend time with my family. Um my wife [2:35] Courtney and our two kids Leo and Rain [2:38] um like to do that and and we go [2:41] outside, we go to parks, we go to pools, [2:44] we are always doing something active [2:46] with like sports. Um personally I like [2:49] to work out a lot and bike, lift [2:51] weights, run, all that kind of stuff. Um [2:54] and you know like to try to find new [2:56] things too. We are very much um [2:58] adventurers. I like to chat travel and [3:01] do that kind of stuff. But um really I'm [3:03] very family centered and um spend a lot [3:05] of time with my family. [3:07] What's a fun fact about you? [3:10] Fun fact? Um I think a fun fact is I [3:15] have a sister that's 10 years younger [3:16] than me and she's also a former OIO um [3:20] area school student. Um and we have the [3:23] same birthday. So we're 10 years to the [3:26] day. She was born on my birthday and [3:28] when I turned 10 years old. And so, um, [3:30] that's that's a fun fact. Um, I think [3:32] another fun fact is, um, we are [3:36] expecting our third child, um, in [3:38] September. So, it'll be a baby that'll [3:40] be showing up here in the fall. Um, so [3:42] that's that's also something that we're [3:44] looking forward to. [3:47] What's your favorite school lunch? [3:49] What's my favorite school lunch? Um, I [3:52] would have to go with Italian dunkers. [3:54] Um, those are, you know, you can't beat [3:56] it. cheese and bread and a little bit of [3:59] sauce. So good. Um so I I would go with [4:01] Italian duckers for sure. [4:03] Um anything else you would like to share [4:06] with us? [4:07] Um I'm just excited to be your [4:08] principal. I'm excited to to be here and [4:11] be um the leader of the building and um [4:14] to help all of you find success to [4:16] support you um to help all of our staff [4:19] support you and and uh you know your [4:22] future. But really excited to be here [4:24] and thankful for the the chance to sit [4:27] down with the three of you today. [4:30] [Music]