About Me: JEFF MARTIN
I am a proud graduate of KVHS, 1988, so I have roots and interests in this area. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, still don't, but I attended Purdue Northwest for two years before hanging it up to work in the construction field. I worked as a draftsman with the Hamstra Group, located in Wheatfield, for a couple years before moving out into the field and working on one of their crews. I continued for another two-three years before going to work with my father in our own family construction business.
I went back to college when I was in my low thirties to finish up my degree, however I was pulled away from finishing because of a job offer at the time I thought I could not refuse. I worked as the project manager of a 214 unit apartment complex up by Crown Point. That job lasted a year and a half before issues caused the company to close their doors. I still didn't have a college degree but I had started my own company called Wheels-4-Tots, Inc in the mean time. I started working for Saco, Inc in Lowell designing and estimating cabinets while my hobby business grew.
Saco lasted about 16 months before I resigned and became self-employed. Wheels-4-Tots, Inc is a manufacturing and distributing business within the motorcycle industry. I was blessed to get my design patented and developed, I believe it was directed by God... that's my story and I am sticking to it. Wheels-4-Tots, Inc has just made it past its 14th year in business. I also developed most of my radio/TV broadcasting knowledge by being in this business as well. I have been on cable TV shows, commercial shots, radio stations, and web broadcasts. The knowledge I obtained made it possible for me to create all of our instructional videos for our products which have been used over the years for dealers and distributors in the industry.
I was a stay at home Dad and business owner and it was during that time I went back to college, Purdue Lafayette, to finish my degree. I worked hard and completed the classes I was lacking in two years and student taught here at KVHS. Mike MiKay resigned at the end of that year and I was hired to replace him.
Now I gave you all this information about me for a reason. I am living proof that if you are willing to work hard at something you can be successful. I am not talking about fanatical, I am talking about your peace of mind and satisfaction. You have to love what you do not just love the money that may go with it. I truly have done a lot of things in my time, which is far from over, but I want my students to know where I have come from. I'm not a teacher who came right out of high school into college and then back into the classroom. I believe the best experience someone can have is real-life..... sometimes the lessons you learn hurt and will leave scares, but then again, some of the trials and pains we go through make and develop us into who we have become.
My teaching method is to have fun and laugh even when it is at my own experience. Students are not going to remember everything, but they will remember things if you made it interesting and applicable to them. I want to so students that they can make it.... because I did. I was one who was told by a teacher that I wouldn't amount to anything, but they were wrong and I believe anyone who is negative and wants to put others down instead of building them up is big time WRONG! So reach for your dreams and keep God first in your life and anything is possible.
Thank you for the time it took you to read this and learn a little more about my experiences and methods of teaching.
Jeff Martin
I went back to college when I was in my low thirties to finish up my degree, however I was pulled away from finishing because of a job offer at the time I thought I could not refuse. I worked as the project manager of a 214 unit apartment complex up by Crown Point. That job lasted a year and a half before issues caused the company to close their doors. I still didn't have a college degree but I had started my own company called Wheels-4-Tots, Inc in the mean time. I started working for Saco, Inc in Lowell designing and estimating cabinets while my hobby business grew.
Saco lasted about 16 months before I resigned and became self-employed. Wheels-4-Tots, Inc is a manufacturing and distributing business within the motorcycle industry. I was blessed to get my design patented and developed, I believe it was directed by God... that's my story and I am sticking to it. Wheels-4-Tots, Inc has just made it past its 14th year in business. I also developed most of my radio/TV broadcasting knowledge by being in this business as well. I have been on cable TV shows, commercial shots, radio stations, and web broadcasts. The knowledge I obtained made it possible for me to create all of our instructional videos for our products which have been used over the years for dealers and distributors in the industry.
I was a stay at home Dad and business owner and it was during that time I went back to college, Purdue Lafayette, to finish my degree. I worked hard and completed the classes I was lacking in two years and student taught here at KVHS. Mike MiKay resigned at the end of that year and I was hired to replace him.
Now I gave you all this information about me for a reason. I am living proof that if you are willing to work hard at something you can be successful. I am not talking about fanatical, I am talking about your peace of mind and satisfaction. You have to love what you do not just love the money that may go with it. I truly have done a lot of things in my time, which is far from over, but I want my students to know where I have come from. I'm not a teacher who came right out of high school into college and then back into the classroom. I believe the best experience someone can have is real-life..... sometimes the lessons you learn hurt and will leave scares, but then again, some of the trials and pains we go through make and develop us into who we have become.
My teaching method is to have fun and laugh even when it is at my own experience. Students are not going to remember everything, but they will remember things if you made it interesting and applicable to them. I want to so students that they can make it.... because I did. I was one who was told by a teacher that I wouldn't amount to anything, but they were wrong and I believe anyone who is negative and wants to put others down instead of building them up is big time WRONG! So reach for your dreams and keep God first in your life and anything is possible.
Thank you for the time it took you to read this and learn a little more about my experiences and methods of teaching.
Jeff Martin