Teaching Schedule
Period	Course	Room	Assignments
02	Campus Aide	125	n/a
02	English 3A	125	n/a
03	Campus Aide	125	n/a
03	English 3A	125	n/a
04	English 4A	125	n/a
05	Campus Aide	125	n/a
05	English 4A	125	n/a
06	Campus Aide	125	n/a
06	English 3A	125	n/a

Additional Information

Adjunct Duties

TRT (Technology Resource Teacher); AAGG (All Around Good Guy)

Awards

Seattle Area Armed Forces Scholar Athlete Award (1984); Dean's List, George Fox College (1985-1987); Dean's List, Azusa Pacific University (1990-1991); 1st Place-Ethics Symposium of West Coast Christian Colleges (1991)

Academic Background

Audio Engineering & Vocal Performance, Shoreline Community College (1988); B.A. in Applied Communication from Azusa Pacific University (1991);

Family

Alexandra-Daughter (17 yrs); Anton-Son (15 yrs); Quinn-Son (9 yrs); Shawshee the Cat (9 yrs); Nacho the tiny Dog (4 yrs)

Why did you become a teacher?

One of the reasons I became a teacher is that growing up, my life was shaped in part by a few influential and amazing teachers who took an interest in me and saw potential rather than seeing just another kid from a messed-up home. As I got older some of the best friends I ever had were some of those same teachers. I tell their stories even now in my classes. Even now (many years later) their teaching lives on through me. My hope each year is that I can make that kind of a difference. I also love the energy of being around students and being a part of their lives.

Years teaching?

I have officially been a teacher for 15 years. In that time I have taught English to grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. I have also taught speech, drama, computers, yearbook, and journalism. Before officially becoming a teacher, I spent many years "moonlighting" as a teacher of sorts, working as a youth pastor, a vocal coach, a public speaking coach, and a motivational youth speaker and performer.

Personal Comments/Quotes

"Why blame the dark for being dark? It’s far more helpful to ask why the light isn’t as bright as it should be." Rob Bell "I drank what?" Socrates "Truth is rarely pure and never simple." Oscar Wilde "...I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace..." Elizabeth Barret Browning “You know that you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” Dr. Seuss "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." Albert Einstein

Interests & Hobbies

My interests include: music (listening, writing, singing and performing); reading (favorite genres include fantasy, philosophy, and theology); writing (short stories, poetry, and novels with 3 in various stages of the process); playing with my family; working on my blog (www.verumserum.com); being with my circle of friends; engaging my faith

Most memorable moment

When you spend a few years teaching, you come up with so many memorable moments. A few in no particular order include: 1) There was the time my first year teaching when I was moving furniture around my room before school and completely ripped out the seat of my jeans. None of my students said anything until 1st Period was halfway over. (I was wondering why it fealt so breezey in my classroom!) ; - ) 2) I had a student several years ago named Josh who was one of the nicest kids I had that year in 8th grade English. Even though Josh was a great kid, he was also completely unmotivated. Though he never missed a day, I could never get him to turn anything in for credit. He would listen and contribute to the discussions from time to time and had some great things to add, but he never did any work. This was the last year before "social promotion" was eliminated, so Josh was allowed to go through the 8th Grade promotion ceremony and get his "pass" through to 9th grade, even though his grades didn't merit it. The last thing he said to me after that promotion ceremony was, "Chill, Mr. Ragan! You're the best teacher I've ever had. I can't wait for my brother to have you. I'll come by and see you next year." Three weeks later he was shot down outside his apartment by some thugs who were aiming for his step-father. Josh's funeral was gut-wrenching and I will carry the memory of his face and his mother's tears forever. Two years later, I had his brother Corry for 8th Grade English. During the course of that year, I couldn't believe the number of times that Corry would bring things up during discussions and say that his brother had told him about this or that story, or about this or that theme. Josh had been teaching his younger brother the whole time by sharing with him what excited him about my class. By the end of the year, Corry had earned a string of A's from me for all 4 quarters. I guess you could say that Corry's brother Josh and I taught Corry together. 3) Also, there are a few students who have made such an impression on me and I on them that we have remained in contact via email even after several years. Keeping up with them and their lives is great, and it is nice when from time to time one of them drops me a line to say "thanks" for what they learned and got out of my class.