I was born in a small town in Southern England called Shoreham-By- Sea. At a young age I moved around due to my father's employment. I lived in Norway and Arizona before moving back to England at the age of 7. This early exposure to travel and different cultures has lead me to be open to multiple perspectives and to realize that truth can be subjective.
From the age of 7 to 12 I remained in England and went through the state school system. It was during this time that I discovered my interest in the maths and sciences. I loved discovering how the world works and solving complex problems. My parents continued to expose me and my sister to travel, and I also began to develop a new passion for music. It was at the age of 10 when I first got a guitar and I have been playing ever since. I moved back to the Arizona when I was twelve and have remained in the States since. I went to high school in Arizona and solidified my passion for math and science, especially physics. It was this love for physics that lead me to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Arizona. College was an amazing period of growth for me. I figured out who I am and solidified my beliefs in logic, reason, creativity, and geniality. After college I moved to Orange County, California and worked as a design engineer for a bearing manufacturer. Although I enjoyed being out in the workforce, I wasn't feeling satisfied as an engineer. My creativity was not being tapped and I missed interacting with the abstract theories that were so prominent in my college classes. I was also craving getting out of the office environment and working more closely with other people. After some soul searching I realized that the process of learning is extremely important to me. I wanted to constantly grow and learn and I wanted to help others do the same. This led me to teaching. I left my career as an engineer and joined the credential program at the University of California, Irvine where I received single subject credentials in mathematics and physics as well as a Masters in Teaching (MAT). Through the program, I student-taught at a traditional middle school and began to question my choice of a career change. The environment felt restrictive and was not cultivating a culture of curiosity. It was not until I discovered High Tech High that I realized that there was a school that I could feel a connection with. I am so lucky to have been teaching at High Tech High Chula Vista (HTHCV) for the past 10 years. I truly believe that I have found my calling and an organization that shares my educational and pedagogical values. I have taught several subjects during my time at the school, but I am currently teaching Engineering. I feel that this school allows me the freedom to make connections to the students in so many ways and satisfies my craving for exploration in both the content and the experiences inside the classroom. Now that I have completed the HTH Graduate Program, I am looking forward to pushing myself in my practice and leaving a mark on my school. I am grateful for all of the opportunities HTH has provided me and I hope that I am able to give a little something back. |
contact informationMark A. Poole
12th Grade Statistics/Engineering/Physics High Tech High Chula Vista 1945 Discovery Falls Drive Chula Vista, CA 91915 Phone: (619) 591-2500 x25029 Email: [email protected] |