Mike Austin
Professional Experience
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2004-2019 |
I taught US History and Character Education at Independence Charter Middle School in Oklahoma. I am now retired as of May 2019.
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2003-2004 |
Year-long sabbatical spent backpacking alone through the jungles and mountains of South and Central America. The rationale for this 'year of living dangerously' is here. Information and photos are here. |
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1993-2003 |
High School Teacher, Asociacion Escuelas Lincoln, Argentina,
grades 9-12,
History/Economics/TOK/International Relations, IB/AP.
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1989-1991 |
Social Studies Teacher, Marian Baker School, Costa Rica, grades 7-12
(Middle and
High Schools), History/Government/Geography, AP.
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1983-1985 |
Swim and Lifesaving Instructor American Red Cross Portland Community College Continuing Education Program |
Education
| 05/2016 |
Renewal of Teaching
Certification 04/01/2016 - 06/30/2021 |
The Oklahoma State Department of Education |
| 03/2011 |
Renewal of Teaching Certification 03/01/2001 - 06/30/2016 |
The Oklahoma State Department of Education |
| 06/06 |
07/01/2006 - 06/30/2011 |
The Oklahoma State Department of Education |
| 07/05 |
Awarded Teaching Certificate US History, Oklahoma History, Government, Economics, World History, Geography. Grades 6-12
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The Oklahoma State Department of Education
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| 01/05 |
Awarded Teaching License US History, Oklahoma History, Government, Economics, World History, Geography. Grades 6-12
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The Oklahoma State Department of Education
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|
12/02 |
Awarded Provisional Teaching Certification Secondary, Grades 7-12, History (CC) and Political Science (CD), PV0003252-002290, expires 06/30/08
|
State of Michigan State Board of Education Department of Education |
|
06/02 |
Completed
Requirements for Teaching Certification
|
Michigan
State University |
|
06/98-07/98 |
Completed
nine semester hours working toward a Certification in Education
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Michigan State University Valbonne, France |
|
11/96-9/97 |
Graduate
Studies in Education
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University
of Maryland |
|
01/92-06/93 |
Post-baccalaureate
studies in Economics, History, Politics and Spanish
|
Portland
State University
|
|
1988 |
BS
Political Science |
Portland
State University
|
|
01/81-06/83 |
Graduate work in History and
Political Science
|
Portland
State University |
|
1980 |
BA History
High Honors |
Portland
State University
|
| 12/10 | Guatemala |
Spent 14 days backpacking in the isolated northern jungle region of the Petén. |
| 07/08 | Guatemala | General travel throughout the nation. Camping at the Mayan ruins of Tikal. Walking from village to village around Lake Atitlan.
|
| 06/07 | Guatemala | Solo backpacking to the Mayan ruins of El Zotz and on to Tikal. |
| 03/04 | Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica
|
Year long sabbatical spent solo backpacking, in photography and writing. |
| 2000 | France | Completed class work for Maryland Teaching Certification. |
| 93/03 | Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Paraguay | Living and teaching in Argentina. Traveling and backpacking throughout Latin America. General photos here.
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| 89/91 | Costa Rica, Guatemala | Living and teaching in Costa Rica.
General travel throughout the region.
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| 86/87 | Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru | Year long adventure spent solo backpacking throughout Latin America. Eleven days spent walking through the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. Some photos here. |
| 83/84 |
Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica |
General travel throughout region. Some photos here. |
| 80/81 |
England, Ireland, France, West Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Morocco |
General travel and hitch-hiking. |
Professional Development
| 8/16 |
"Computer Science Fundamentals" (Accelerated Course) |
Learned basic coding and how to implement it into the classroom. |
| 8/16 | "Reading Aloud in the Classroom" |
Benefits of student reading throughout the curriculum. Taught by Oklahoma Public School Resource Center. |
| 8/14 |
"Best Practices" All day workshop given by Drew Eichelberger |
Workshop dealt with the State of Oklahoma's rejection of Common Core Standards and its substitution with revised PASS skills. |
| 8/13 | "Hard Core Common Core" all day workshop given by Drew Eichelberger. | Intense review and discussion of Common Core Standards. |
| 10/12 | All day workshop titled "Rigor and Relevance" given by Brenda Davis. |
Workshop reviewed the coming implementation of Common Core Standards in
2013 - 2014. |
| 08/12 |
All day workshop with Brenda Davis on Common Core Standards |
Reviewed Common Core Standards and the methods to be used to implement them in Oklahoma public schools in 2014. |
| 05/12 |
All day workshop with Cathy Vatterott, author and educator. |
Reviewed in detail grading procedures and discussed the most efficient methods of homework assessment. |
| 08/11 |
"Classroom Management and Student Motivation", given by Drew Eichelberger, Independence Charter Middle School
|
Explored a variety of unusual and useful methods to draw students into the material and keep them focused and motivated. |
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"Building an Advanced Academic Vocabulary" Workshop, Independence Charter Middle School
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| 08/09 |
"Building Academic Vocabulary" ConnectEd Services Workshop, Independence Charter Middle School
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In-school seminar dedicated to methods of increasing vocabulary among middle school students. |
| 02/08 |
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| 02/07 |
Oklahoma Association for the Gifted, Creative and Talented
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Participated in a workshop exploring the many methods of encouraging and teaching Gifted and Talented students. |
| 10/05 |
Love and Logic Workshop |
Developed alternate methods of classroom management
dependent upon re-evaluated teacher-student roles.
|
| 08/04 |
Faculty Retreat Tenkiller Lake, Oklahoma
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Participated in three-day conference and retreat with entire faculty and board. |
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11/02 |
Asociacion Escuelas Lincoln
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Participated in Advanced Placement workshop in US History
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07/98 |
United World Colleges IB Workshop
New
Mexico
|
Attended a week-long course about the
IB Program in Economics
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| 96/97 |
Professional Development Hours, Buenos Aires,
Argentina
|
List of Professional Development acquired through Lincoln School |
| 96 |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Discussed a variety of methods related to curriculum
writing and research.
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10/96 |
Buenos
Aires, Argentina
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Participated in a three-day conference
regarding issues in overseas teaching.
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04/96 |
|
Participated in a two-day workshop concerning
techniques of skillful teaching.
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07/95 |
United
World Colleges IB Workshop
New
Mexico |
Attended a week-long course about the
IB Program in Economics. |
|
04/94 |
Participated in a three-day conference concerning
portfolio development and assessment. |
Extracurricular Activities
| 2005- 2012 |
Fitness and Running Coach
|
Organized and coached a running and conditioning class for all middle school grade levels. Prepared select students for Track Team. |
| 2004-2013 |
Academic Team Coach Twice State Champions
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Organized Academic Team for grades 6 through 8, participating in state and local competitions. |
| 2004-2005 |
Advanced Blues Guitar
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Developed guitar program for advanced students. Lessons include chord progressions, blues rhythms and scales, and improvisation. |
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1998-2002
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Backpacking
Club Asociacion Escuelas Lincoln |
Organized and accompanied selected students for
four-day backpacking trips into the
Andes. |
|
1994-2002 |
Knowledge
Bowl Coach
Asociacion
Escuelas Lincoln Twice International Champions |
Organized
AASSA Knowledge Bowl competition for nine South American schools. Selected
outstanding students to participate in International Knowledge Bowl
competitions in Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
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1995-2001
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Music
Ensemble Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Member
of a music group composed of parents, teachers and students who performed
weekly for the local
English-speaking Catholic Church.
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1996-2000 |
Guitarist |
Played in a variety of school performances including the musical Grease. |
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1993-1994
|
Swim
Team Coach
Asociacion
Escuelas Lincoln |
Trained
swim team of twenty members for competition in the Buenos Aires area. |
|
1989-91
|
Backpacking
Club
Marian
Baker School San Jose, Costa Rica
|
Accompanied High School students on several outings into the jungles of
Costa Rica for
three days of hiking, camping and cooking. |
|
1990-91 |
Advanced Placement Tutor
San
Jose, Costa Rica |
Tutored AP European History and AP American Government and Politics. |
Military Service
|
1972-1975 |
United States Air Force |
Medical Corpsman. Attained rank of non-commissioned officer (E-4). |
Professional Membership
|
1986-2012 |
|
Member of an adventure, travel and educational
organization dealing with a variety of issues concerning Latin America.
Advised on issues concerning the Darien Gap region of South and Central
America. |
Publications
|
October,
1988 |
|
I wrote an article concerning an eleven-day hike without
guides, porters or boats
across Panama into Colombia. |
Interests
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Solo Backpacking Bikepacking Camping Hiking Ancient Historians Classical and World Music Firearms Bicycling |
