An East Bay native and proud O’Dowd graduate, Mark is a former U.S. Marine who served two combat tours in Iraq before pursuing his BS in Business Management from Menlo College. He finds teaching to be a meaningful and creative outlet, valuing the opportunity to work with young people as they grow and strive to improve themselves and their communities. As a Social Studies teacher, Mark is especially passionate about preparing students for their democratic and civic responsibilities. He believes O’Dowd is a special place where lasting lessons and connections are formed and where students are encouraged to take full advantage of opportunities for growth. Outside of school, he enjoys time with his family, skiing, backpacking, boating on the Bay, visiting Tahoe, golfing, and managing his entrepreneurial ventures.