Michael Mitchel

Expertise: Education
Expedition Role: Educational Support
Affiliation: Evergreen Middle School

How did you get to where you are?

I was born and raised in Shasta County. Specifically I’ve lived in the small community of Cottonwood for the entire 48 years of my life. I attended the local community college and later transferred into Chico State University where I received a BS in Social Welfare. After graduating, I began working in a private non-profit housing corporation. A year later I became the Executive Director and continued in this position for the next twelve years. In Jr. college I was interested in becoming a teacher. However, my identical twin wanted to pursue a teaching career so I chose another path. In 1989, the desire to teach was too strong and I resigned. I enrolled into the teaching program at Chico State and within a year I was teaching 4th grade at the same school as my twin. The next year I was moved into 6th grade and have been there since. I am now in my 14th year of teaching. My proudest teaching moment was to develop a math program for our school district that has significantly raised our state test scores. I have been a master teacher for thirteen years, the district math mentor for the past five years, basketball coach for fourteen years, and am currently our union president. I have been extensively trained in Dr. William Glassers’ “Reality Therapy” approach to teaching in a “Quality School”. In 2001 I was honored with a National Service Learning Project award.

What Made You Study Science?

My favorite subject as a child was science. I took a great deal of anthropology classes in college. Space and earth history (fossils) was a fascination to me as an adult. My first teaching assignment was specifically math and science. We had no textbooks to use. I immediately began researching my subject material and writing my own curriculum. My approach was entirely hands-on science. The more I taught science the more I loved doing it. I have never looked back nor lost my passion for teaching science.

Where did you grow up?

As stated earlier, I have lived in Cottonwood, California all 48 years of my life. The surrounding mountains, lakes and streams were and continue to be my personal “backyard”. From childhood to adulthood my identical twin and I have spent most of our free time in sports and outdoor activities.

Family, hobbies, interests, etc.

I live and teach in Cottonwood, California. I am proud of the fact that I’ve taught my entire career at Evergreen Middle School, a very progressive and non-traditional school. My wife and I have five children, all of which are attending college. My wife has a teaching credential. Her teaching focus is reading and has taught primary her entire career. We own a mountain property approximately ten miles from the Lassen National Volcanic Park north entrance and spend a great deal of time there. Our family and I enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting. My non outdoor hobby is computer work and take pride in the diverse computer skills I possess including digital video filmmaking.

Parting words for students and teachers.

Students – make school fun for yourself. Academics are best learned via enjoyment. The more you like something the farther you go with it. Treat new skills as though they were a coded message that you must break. Question all that you see, give what you are asked your best. Teachers – don’t expect respect, earn respect. Be fair, teach beyond the box. Treat them the way you would want to be treated in return. Find ways to motivate your students. Be their coach and mentor. Above all, make learning fun and believe that every child has value.