Mr. Kitchen
Who is Mr. Kitchen?
My Early Life
I was raised in Haysville, Kansas by my dad who was a self-employed auto electrician and my mom who was a homemaker. I have a sister and four brothers. While in high school I enjoyed basketball, theatre, Boy Scouts, and my church youth group. I graduated from Campus High School with a GPA of 1.86 and I didn’t know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I only knew that I was done with school.
My Post-High School Years
Approximately 8 months after I graduated, I chose to live and study among the Navajo Indians on the "Big Reservation" in the southwest U.S. - and did this for more than two years. I found my life's focus while I was there - lifelong learning. Lifelong learners make opportunities at all ages and in numerous contexts: at work, at home, and through leisure activities; including, but not limited to formal channels such as school. I also gained a greater appreciation for critical thinking and creativity. When I returned to Kansas, having decided to become a teacher, I surprised everyone who knew me in high school - including my parents.
My University Years
I doubled my high school GPA during my undergraduate work and have maintained a 4.0 since earning my first degree. I have earned degrees from Kansas State University and Friends University. I have also done graduate studies at Wichita State University, the University of Oxford, and Princeton University.
Current
Naomi and I met as students at Kansas State University and, after a lengthy courtship of three-weeks, decided to get married. I was teaching Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State when I accepted my current teaching position at Northwest High in 2000. Naomi and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary in August 2009. We have 3 daughters and 3 sons.
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