National Geographic Forces of Nature
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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About Me
- Daniel Kretchmar
- I started teaching in 1993. I taught Life Science for 15 years and switched to 8th grade Earth Science for 4 years. In 2011 I was asked to head up the STEM program for Westwood Middle School. Since STEM is such a broad subject, it lets me pursue a wide variety of projects with my students including: programming, hovercraft, siege engines, bridge building, game design, orienteering, rocketry, stop motion animation, etc. I have ADHD, but instead of hiding it, being a STEM teacher allows me to use it as an asset instead of a disability. I started college in UW-Milwaukee studying Architecture and Design, but transferred to UW-Madison to study engineering. After working as an engineer for 3 years for MPC Products, my company decided to have me work on weapons. Since I am a pacifist, I could not continue to work there. Against all reason, I took my mother's advice and went back to school to get my teaching certificate. I have been a teacher for 15 years and have won an award from the National Science Teachers Association for Exemplary Lesson Planning. My biggest hobby is that I collect hobbies. I love to learn new things.