I’ve spent most of my career as an educator in the Bozeman Public Schools. The experience trained me to navigate arguably the most complex, emotionally charged, high-stakes work environment in the community. Whether working with colleagues, parents, or students, I've honed a set of people skills highly applicable to the legislative context, even with the minefield of troubles that it has become.
I served with the Bozeman Public Schools for nearly three decades, beginning when I moved from Colorado to Gallatin County in 1995.
I started at Emily Dickinson School and finished my career recently at Sacajawea Middle School. But the bulk of my teaching work happened at Irving School.
I served in many roles with the district: on teams and committees, mentoring less experienced teachers, planning, leading, and organizing for instruction.
I'm most proud of the work I did in guiding a thousand Bozeman youth into becoming productive, responsible, kind future citizens.
I would not be surprised to hear that people I taught are reading these words.
I'm proud to be a parent of three children, each raised in Bozeman with my wife, Cameron Hildreth. Much because of participation with the extended Bozeman community, each of them grew into creative, productive young adults. If you were part of the music, theater, speech, and outdoors scenes in Bozeman over the last twenty-eight years, you quite possibly know them.
My intention upon retirement was not originally to run for office, but then I realized, while getting exasperated with daily developments in the legislature, that making calls and sending emails wasn't enough.
It's time to put my hat in the ring.
