Teacher: Mr. Fryer

Where did you go to college?

I went to high school and community college in Vancouver, WA.  I graduated

high school in 1993 and community college in 1995.  I moved to Bellingham

that summer and started to go to Western Washington University.  I took

a hiatus from the university to go to Bellingham Technical College where

I earned my veterinary assistant certificate.  Later I became an apprentice

electronics repair technician.  Finally, in 2000, I went back to Western to

complete my Bachelors degree in English and earn my teaching certificate.  I

completed my student teaching at Nooksack Valley High School at the end of

the 2004-2005 school year, and I graduated from Western in 2005. re did you grow up?

I was born in Mansfield, Ohio.  We left when I was one because of a flood

that destroyed our home, and I rode on the back of a motorcycle across the

country to San Diego, California, where my little brother was born.  We lived

in Huntington Beach and Orange County for six years before I moved up

to Vancouver, WA, which is where I did most of my “growing up.”  I moved

to Bellingham, WA in 1995. I met my wife Jennifer in the summer of 1995,

and we have been together ever since.  We were married on August 1, 2003,

and our daughter Lillian Rosemary was born on August 29, 2007.  We also

have a dog named Zaphod, a cat named  B.B., and two chinchillas named

Chewbacca and Lola.  It is a full house!

Did you always want to be a teacher? What was your

inspiration?  If not what was your first career choice? What

changed your mind?

My mom is a teacher, and I have always aspired to follow in her footsteps. 

However, I worked in some other professions before becoming a teacher.  I

was a veterinary assistant, and then I repaired electronics.  After working my

life away for several years, and meeting some of the dregs of society, I decided

to pursue my original dream of teaching.  There are so many injustices and

so much hatred in society, and I wanted to do something to try and change

the world!  It is idealistic I know, but change has to come from somewhere,

and the future will be in the hands of today’s youth, so I will do my best to

reach them.  Besides changing the world, I also became a teacher so that I

could spend more time with my family, and get paid to talk about some of my

passions: literature and writing.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy the outdoors, especially hiking with my dog.  I have a passion for the

game of soccer, and I would I also love all forms of comedy, especially stand-

up comedy, and I like to think I have a good sense of humor.  I would love to

write comedy someday, or anything.  I love writing.  I play the guitar as often

as I can, particularly during the long, cold, dreary northwest winter months

and I would like to record some music sometime.  I am also a game enthusiast,

or geek.  I play card games, board games, and video games.

What is something you have done or something that you

do that no other teacher has done?

When I did Vet work, I volunteered at a Zoo in Canada.  One day we had

to perform surgery on a 400 pound Siberian Tiger.  I remember holding that

massive animal in my hands.  It was an awe inspiring experience. 

What kind of student were you in high school? 

My high school experience was so much fun!  I had the classic middle-class,

all American childhood.  I played sports, lived in the suburbs, went on family

vacations, summer camp, Boy Scouts; I even attained the rank of Eagle Scout! 

I had a lot of good friends—some I talk to, others have drifted away—and

my fair share of girl friends too!  I was a pretty good kid, but I still liked to

have fun sometimes.  I remember going skim boarding on the Oregon coast,

frequenting dance clubs, and pulling pranks.  My life was like a cross between

the Wonder Years, Saved by the Bell, and South Park.