Why Teaching

History is something I've loved since I was a kid. It was a passion that my father and I shared and bonded over, and my love for it has stuck with me all these years.

I’m also a total geek for politics, current events, and obscure facts of every kind. Because of this, for years my friends and family had encouraged me to give teaching a try. The idea certainly appealed to me; I knew I would love teaching. But the thought of changing careers midway through life was pretty scary. It took seeing the impact that some great teachers had on my own two daughters for me to finally work up the courage to make the leap.

I hope that my passion for my subject and my constant drive to learn and understand more will make me a good role model and that I can inspire students to find and pursue their passion, develop their intellectual curiosity, and work to be the best that they can be.

To be able to affect this kind of positive change and have a lifelong impact on young people is why I am so excited to take on the challenges and hard work required to become (and to be) a teacher.

What Makes Me, Me

What do I do in my spare time, you ask?

First off, there's always a lot of family stuff going on. On my own time, I get outside—outrigger canoeing, hiking, and backpacking. I love reading, and I never go anywhere without a book. I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I'm a total science fiction/fantasy geek.

So that's me. Remember, despite everything you’ve read here—it’s still Mr. Watkins to you.

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”

—Antoine de Saint-Exupéry