Personal Background
Homepage - Principal's Message
| I began teaching in Oklahoma and am a biology
teacher at heart. In 1982 I began teaching in C-FB at North
Carrollton Junior High, now Dan F. Long Middle School. This is my
twenty-seventh year in Carrollton-Farmers
Branch I.S.D. During my career with C-FB, I have been involved with
nine different schools within our
district (Long, Newman Smith, Blalack, Rosemeade, McCoy, Central, Farmers
Branch, Landry, and Furneaux). I have been a professional educator for
twenty-nine years which encompasses four years in high school, four
at middle school and twenty-one in elementary. I believe Furneaux Elementary and the
communities that feed our campus hold a vast amount of potential. The
resources in our area are tremendous. That is why my wife and I chose
to raise our family here. The Furneaux mission references creating an environment that stimulates a love for learning. My philosophy centers around developing all children academically (content), creatively (fine arts), physically (health and physical education) and socially (behavior, cultural and character values). I believe we must provide opportunities in the classroom and throughout the school that prepares our children for a future that will include global interaction (relevancy). We must begin to also stress the importance of attending college, upon completion of high school. It is not too early to have these discussions. When my daughter started school in 1990, business magazine articles predicted 75% of the existing jobs would be eliminated by the time she graduates from high school. For children now entering kindergarten, those same articles state that 100% of the jobs today will be nonexistent by the time those students graduate. This generation will experience incredible change at a phenomenal rate. Many of the businesses today stress the importance of being good problem solvers and creative thinkers. Our children will more than likely have to create or develop their own jobs, since many of the jobs and careers that exist today will be obsolete by the time they enter the workforce. We must prepare them to handle these changes, and use technology as a tool to assist them. Areas of importance center around teaching our children to be more service oriented. Growing up in our society, we must raise our children to think about how they can give back to their schools, churches, and community. Community service also opens the door for students to learn self-discipline and leadership skills along with another critical component of feeling connected to something important or worthwhile. We all want to feel like we belong to something positive, productive, and successful. Help us provide this attitude in our children. Parents and local businesses can also support our teachers and students by investing in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Education Foundation. The money given to this foundation will support scholarships and special initiatives in our district. We also have a Furneaux Campus Improvement Committee, or CIC. This committee is made up of parents, business partners and faculty. Our meetings center on school improvement. Joining the PTA, or participating on the PTA Board, is another way to show your child how important it is to be involved. I ask that you find ways to get involved at Furneaux Elementary and C-FB ISD. There are many opportunities to volunteer on a regular basis, which include reading with students, going on field trips, or being a classroom parent representative. Contact our office by calling (972) 968-1800. Someone will connect you with the right person to assist you. You can make a difference. For Kids,
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