Don brings a wide range of life and professional experience to his work as a math teacher. A graduate of Piedmont High School, he earned a BA in International Business from UC Berkeley, an International MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), and both a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Digital Media Learning from the University of San Francisco. Having lived in places including Indiana, Southern California, Texas, Arizona, and Japan, he values the many perspectives that shape the O’Dowd community and appreciates the school’s unique blend of economic, racial, and international diversity.

After working in several different careers, Don discovered that teaching was the most meaningful and enjoyable work he had done. In the classroom, he often uses humor to help students engage with challenging concepts, hoping to spark that memorable “A-ha” moment. He believes math ultimately teaches problem-solving and logical thinking—skills that apply far beyond the classroom. Outside of school, Don enjoys chess, basketball, construction projects, astronomy, playing with his kids, and cheering on the Warriors.