Although Karl has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Western Washington University, interned at Stanley British Primary, and has a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver (where he was named “Most Outstanding Graduate” of his class by the school’s faculty), he credits much of his education to the “School of Life.” The transcript from that “school” includes: visiting 18 countries, sailing across the Pacific Ocean and serving a year at the National Science Foundation’s station in Antarctica. Travel to Fiji and New Zealand, and two summers spent in Alaskan salmon canneries are also part of his education. He’s traveled overseas as a reporter with the Air National Guard, climbed the highest mountain outside the Himalayas, and worked on horseback as a backcountry tour guide. Using his journalism degree, he’s written for Yoga Journal and ESPN.com. He’s also a certified scuba diver, an American Sailing Association-certified sailing instructor, a HAM-radio operator and an Eagle Scout.

 

In the classroom, Karl strives to teach to each individual by adapting class instruction based on student needs and sense of self-worth. For example, during a recent game of “Stump the Class,” he portrayed a game-show host and boosted the confidence of each student by introducing him or her as the person they hoped to be in the future—the classroom hosted a gold-medal swimmer, a famous musician, an MVP ballplayer, and an internationally renowned lizard expert.

 

A fascination with history also helps Karl regularly bring that subject to life. He dresses up as different historical characters, and encourages his students to do the same. One of his units asked each student to research the immigration journey of an ancestor in preparation for Karl’s arrival in the guise of “Officer Mulkahey,” a representative of the U.S. Immigration Office. Officer Mulkahey gave each student the chance to reenact the immigration experience of his or her family member at a mock Ellis Island complete with delousing, heavy luggage and long lines.

 

With the combined third- and fourth-grade class, Karl leads a Shakespeare unit that produces one of the Bard’s plays each year. In addition to literature and history, he likes to take students off-campus as often as possible to experience learning firsthand. Such trips include everything from an easy walk to a nearby green belt to full-scale fieldtrips to pumpkin patches, Denver’s U.S. Mint, Lockheed Martin, and assisted-living centers for student-senior interactions.

 

In terms of Karl’s ongoing education as an instructor, he regularly observes master teachers during professional development days at other institutions. According to him, though, one of the best learning experiences in life have been countless lessons he’s picked up from his students. He’s quick to add that this is an “ongoing process.”