My name is Michael and I spent the past 5 years teaching in my hometown in California. This year, I began my 6th year of teaching in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
I am passionate about education, teaching, giving back, and making a positive impact in the world. My goal is to teach with compassion and understanding while helping students in need. I went into teaching with a big heart and, in hindsight, unrealistic expectations. Being my sensitive self, I struggled dealing with the constant emotional trauma that teaching has become in the United States.
I went to work each day and had to combat so many societal problems that were out of my control. Rampant, unmitigated inequities only added to the challenges faced by my students and myself. After teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures, I realized things were not getting better for teachers in my country. The toxic educational landscape in the US, coupled with problems in my personal life, became too much for me to handle. I struggled to find the joy in a profession so disrespected and attacked from so many sides.
After reaching my lowest point, I finally realized something needed to change. Although so much was out of my control, I knew I needed to focus on what I could control and make changes where I could. This led me to where I am now!
I landed in Mongolia in August 2023. So far, it has been amazing exploring my new home, getting to know my students, and teaching in a supportive, academically oriented, and healthier environment. It has taken a couple of years of really hard work to get to where I am right now, and I know I still have a ways to go. I am feeling better than I have in many years, working on being a better person, teacher, and global citizen.
This year, I began my Masters in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership with an emphasis in Global Studies in Education. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to move abroad and experience living in another country. I love to learn, go out of my comfort zone, travel, and try new things. I get to do all of that and more while living my dream on a new continent!
Chalkboard Trailblazer 