Where Have I Been?

 The title of this article is apropos since I haven't blogged in almost 12 years. I plan to start this blog up again and try to blog on a consistent basis. I will also be broadening the topics that I write about. Be sure to subscribe so you can get notifications about when I post.

So what have I been up to since that October day in 2013 when I made my last blog? Let me recap for you. When that post happened I was in the middle of my Toastmaster journey and I'm happy to say that I crossed the Toastmaster finish line by earning my DTM. I didn't continue in Toastmasters after that since I changed jobs and took my leadership skills to Mathnasium and started running a Mathnasium in Blaine MN in 2016. I got the opportunity to blend my education degree with my MBA and use it as the Director of the Mathnasium in Blaine. I also had the opportunity to be the director at one in St Louis Park and one in  Andover. I ran these until 2023 when I decided to go back into the classroom and teach.

In 2023 I started teaching math again. It was nice to get back into the classroom. I taught at a Charter school in East Bethel MN named Star of The North Academy. I taught math to 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. I only worked their for a year because an opportunity came up for me to teach at PACT Charter school, 10 minutes from home and where my son attends. I was supposed to be the intervention teacher but the needed a 7th grade teacher so I taught one intervention class, three 7th grade pre-algebra, one 7th grade honors pre-algebra and one personal finance class. I also coached boys middle school soccer, 1st-2nd grade boys basketball, and the assistant speech coach. I'm looking forward to next year and teaching intervention only and doing some more coaching.

In 2024 I dipped my toe, maybe not dipped but dove in to the political realm. I ran for city council and it was really a lot of fun to meet new people and practice utilizing all those leadership skills. Unfortunately I didn't win but I'm leaning toward running again in 2026. I'll keep everyone posted on that decision. It is true what they say once you run for office you get the bug and have the desire to run again.

Not all I've done has been work related. I spent time participating in some APBA tournaments, joined an APBA league, taking day trips with my son around Minnesota, and recently one of my daughters got married. 

Look for my next article in a few days.