Mr. Perkins
Where were you born and where have you lived?
I was born and raised in Braintree, Massachusetts, and spent the first part of my life living in and around Boston. I also lived in the indigenous, mountaintop village of Boruca, Costa Rica for a year while teaching English. In 2013, I traded the eternal gridlock of Boston for the spacious bike lanes of Fort Collins and haven't looked back since.
Where did you attend university or college?
I graduated from Framingham State University, where I majored in History and minored in Secondary Education.
What kind of reading do you most enjoy doing?
I tend to gravitate towards non-fiction, since I'm starting to get worried that I won't have nearly enough time to learn about all of the wonders of our world and universe. Outdoor and adventure reading keep me excited about life; I probably owe Jon Krakauer a nice meal for encouraging indoorsy me to go outside and explore. Books about space and natural phenomena keep me humble - Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe equally inspires and confounds me every time I go back to it, while Susan Casey's The Wave was a favorite of this past summer. My mother passed on her love of current events to me, so I can't start the morning without catching up on the news. Finally, I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with nerdy baseball statistics.
What are the small essentials that make life more comfortable?
I can't start the day without a hot cup of coffee, so my Aeropress coffee maker is a borderline necessity. My favorite breakfast is a Costa Rican dish called "gallo pinto," so I'll need a bottle of Salsa Lizano for that. Once I'm out my front door, a good pair of climbing shoes and a full water bottle is all I need for a memorable day.
What are your favorite snacks?
If it were possible to subsist entirely on guacamole, I would do so. As science has not yet discovered a way to make that viable, I supplement my diet with peanut butter cup trail mix and clementines.
What do you do to unwind?
I moved to Fort Collins to be closer to the great outdoors, so I spend as much time as I can rock climbing and hiking. I have recently started to work more running and mountain biking into my outdoor time as well. I enjoy writing short stories, and one day hope to come up with an idea intriguing enough to devote a novel to. During the colder months, I'll spend a lot of time with a group of fellow New England expats to partake in all of the quintessential New England pastimes: watching Patriots games, inquiring about the health and whereabouts of every possible family member, and forgetting that the letter 'r' exists. Regardless of what I'm doing, my dog Vogi will always be close by.
How could a parent volunteer help you most?
Check in with the class CVC or myself to see what might be needed during any given week! Last year, I had so many helpful parents lend their time and effort in any number of ways: sharpening pencils, cleaning desks, helping out during math class or a composition period, making posters, decorating the room, or volunteering to chaperone a class event or Eco Week. Parent involvement is one of the things that makes Ridgeview such a special school, so I appreciate whatever help you can offer!