About Mr. G

• I grew up in the community of San Pedro, which is in the harbor area (south bay) of the City of Los Angeles. I was involved with Boy Scouts during my middle and high school (San Pedro High School) years. At the same time, I began working on summer staff at Camp Emerald Bay on the west end of Santa Catalina Island. It was there that I began teaching.
• Emerald Bay and Catalina Island have been a huge part of my life and I am still involved with the camp today. There, I taught science classes and other scouting skills. I coordinated and directed activities for hundreds of scouts. I also directed a rugged adventure program that was strictly for older teens.
• Living on an island for many summers further fueled my passion for learning more about our natural environment. I went to college at the University of California at Santa Barbara with a double major in Environmental Studies and Geography. When I graduated, I was well rounded in the sciences along with gaining valuable technical computer skills.
• Out of UCSB, I went back to teaching, again in the outdoors. I taught 5th and 6th grade with the Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School at Colby Ranch (location no longer used). The school was situated in the wilderness among the San Gabriel Mountains.
• After two years teaching in the wilderness, I decided to go back to school and begin classroom teaching. I went to Claremont Graduate University where I studied education and teaching more closely; earning my Master's degree in Education and a teaching credential.
• I taught the 5th grade for two years at Lee School in Azusa, California.
• Soon after I began teaching, I became engaged to Michelle and decided to move to San Diego. At the time, Michelle was a molecular biology PhD student at the University of California at San Diego.  Today, Michelle is a scientist working at a local BioTech.
  
• Soon after moving to San Diego, I found a home at Correia Middle School. I have taught 8th grade science, 7th grade algebra, and 7th grade life science.  In 2011-2012, I will also add 7th grade pre-algebra to the list.  Last, I have taught hundreds of Correia students how to solve the Rubik's Cube.
  
• During a summer break, I participated in a teacher internship at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in La Jolla. I worked on chemistry research, with the wonderful Finn Research Group, involving measuring heat flow with a micro-calorimeter on different concentrations of a special reaction with copper. This research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
• I currently teach 7th grade pre-algebra and life science at Correia Middle School. I also teach a 7th grade Rubik's Cube mini-elective. Lastly, my passion for developing technology integrated curriculum is highly evident in my classroom.

Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies and Geography - University of California, Santa Barbara - 2000

Master of Arts, Education - Claremont Graduate University - 2003

Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential - Claremont Graduate University - 2003

GATE Certification - San Diego State University and San Diego Unified School District - 2008

Cox Kids Foundation, Innovation in Education, Grant Recipient, 2008

Journal of The American Chemical Society, 2007 - Benzimidazole and Related Ligands for Cu-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition

Super Service Recognition Award, San Diego Unified School District, 2007

Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair Teacher of the Year, 2007

Correia Middle School Teacher of the Year, 2007

Master's Thesis, Claremont Graduate University, 2003 - An Ethnographic Adventure

Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America

Mr. G's Activities and Hobbies

Ever since March of 2011, my new favorite thing in the whole world is our new baby boy, Knox.  If you stick around campus long enough, you might be able to catch a glimpse of little G.  I'm enjoying every moment watching him grow and develop!  Here's what else I like to do: