Hello,

I’m an educator, writer, father and veteran — born and raised in Southeast Texas. Education and learning has always been a passion of mine — I’ve always been curious about the world around me. I’m especially interested in journalism, media, advertising and marketing and the convergence of how culture, history and events come together to create the narrative of humanity.

Everyone has as story to tell.

I hope to foster thought-provoking discussions and the sharing of ideas to improve learning for students of all experience levels, and to provide thoughts for self-reflection for professionals and anyone else interested in media and education.

My learning philosophy is a tree of many branches — I believe that there are many types of learners and, as teachers, we need to be adaptive and flexible. My experience is that students achieve better in a environment that emphasizes experiential learning that has Choice, Ownership, Voice in creating Authentic work as visible artifacts (COVA). Teaching journalism and advertising requires students to gain experience and achievement by publishing their work for public audiences. Media education, for learners and instructors, requires significant feedback and reflection (something we often don’t spend enough time doing) to improve the quality of our work.

Currently, I’m the Assistant Director of Student Publications at Lamar University and Advertising Manager for the University Press. In addition, I write, copy edit and take photos for ISSUE magazine of the Art Studio, Inc. and I’m also a sometimes copyeditor and graphic designer for The Examiner newspaper and work as a photographer for Brandon Gouthier Photography.

Welcome to my site.

My CV of Teaching Experience

– 24 years teaching and media advising experience

Education & Certification

Master’s of Education, Digital Learning and Leading, Lamar University, May 2018

Bachelor’s of Science, Communication, Lamar University

Texas Educator’s Certificate, Secondary Education, Lamar University.

1800 hours of professional educator development, Texas State Board of Educator Certification.

Texas Beginning Educator Support System Mentor Teacher for Beaumont ISD

Recognition and associations

• 2012 Reaud Education Foundation High School Teacher of the Year Award (received $10,000 grant)

• 2011 Edith Fox King Award, Texas Journalism Adviser of the Year, Interscholastic League Press Conference

• 215 student and staff awards 2015 to present as co-adviser and assistant director of student publications, University Press, Lamar University. Awarding institutions include the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Houston Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Press Club of Southeast Texas.

• 682 student and staff awards earned 2000-2015 from following institutions while at West Brook HS, West Orange-Stark HS and Atascocita HS:
– University Interscholastic League, University of Texas
– Interscholastic League Press Conference
– Texas Association of Journalism Educators
– Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Columbia University
– National Scholastic Press Association, University of Minnesota
– Quill and Scroll, University of Iowa
– National Federation of Press Women

• 2010 Texas A&M Club, Texas High School Teacher of the Year

• 2009, 2010, 2012 UIL Distinguished State Academic Adviser Award

• UIL State Academic Meet Competition Judge 2006-2008 and 2010-2013

• Interscholastic League Press Conference state contest judge 2015 to present. Online newspaper category

• 2005-2006 National Board of Judges for Contests, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York, NY.

• Multiple Southeast Texas Press Club and Advertising Federation of Southeast Texas awards recipient for Public Relations, Advertising, Design and Writing.

• I’ve presented at multiple conferences and workshops including the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, Interscholastic League Press Conference, and the Texas Association of Journalism Educators. Additionally, I’ve presented at in-services for several schools and school districts including Humble ISD, Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Beaumont ISD and West Orange-Cove CISD.

• 2003 American Society of Newspaper Editors Fellow for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Youth Initiative Journalism Institute, School of Journalism, Moody College of Communication, University of Texas, Austin

– 2004 American Society of Newspaper Editors Fellow for Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, School of Journalism, Moody College of Communication, University of Texas, Austin

• Society of Professional Journalists, Houston Chapter, undergraduate scholarship and grant recipient 1994

• Associated Press Managing Editors, Best Student Newspaper, University Press, Editor Stephan Malick 1994