Are you married? Come this June, I will have been married to my beautiful wife, Jessica, for thirteen of the best years of my forty-five-year life. She is one of the biggest blessings I’ve ever been given, along with my children and my salvation from Jesus Christ.

How long have you been in education: This is my 16th year in education.

Where were you at before Crane: I taught in Ector County ISD at Bonham Junior High for a few years, where I coached football, track and girls basketball. I then moved to Midland ISD when I married Jessica, where I worked for a few years as a junior high English teacher.

What do you do for fun: I recently began raising quail. I incubate the eggs, raise the quail, and my hope is to begin selling quail eggs and quail to the local community. I also love my chickens. But my biggest hobby is reading. I listen to audiobooks, the Bible, and biblical commentaries pretty much every second of my free time. In fact, when I’m tending to my quail, I’ve got my headphones in even then, learning what I can about various things and God.

What do you like most about working in education: I enjoy teaching my students new things. I enjoy conveying wisdom to them so that they can turn around and do the same thing with people in their lives. I understand that we are here for only a short while, and that one day I will be gone. Therefore, what I can leave my students with when I'm gone is a love for learning that can last their lifetime, and if they pass it down to their children, it can go well beyond that. I've learned to never downplay or doubt the impact that we all have in this life. 

Children/Grand Children: I have a son, Nicolas, who is a senior this year; my middle child is Cash, who is in fifth grade; and my youngest is my daughter, Stevie-Kate, who is a second-grader. God has blessed me with a wonderful family. I certainly don’t deserve the blessings God has given me.

What would students be surprised to find out about you? I was an extra in the movie Friday Night Lights, along with my brother, Craig. My scenes didn’t make the film, but my brother is clearly in one scene where Billy Bob Thornton is giving his motivational pre-game speech.

Do you have any pets? Several chickens, most of them unnamed. The ones who are named are called Selena and Pastel. Several quail, and all are unnamed except for a male and a female called Adam and Eve. We have two yorkies named Oliver and Berkeley and one cat named Millie. We also have one slider turtle named Sheldon. 

What is your dream vacation: To go to Israel and walk where Jesus walked and pray where he prayed. I would love to be able to experience the terrain of the Apostles and Prophets.

What are your “trapped on a desert island” books or movies: Books: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole for humor. The Bible by God for my spiritual well-being and elucidation. Stephen King books for a good scare. My movies would be The Royal Tenenbaums, Donnie Darko, and The Passion of the Christ.

If you won the lottery and decided to give up working in education, what would you do instead: Move my wife and kids to a nice place by the lake.

What inspires you? Jesus Christ. Hands down. Jesus is by far the most important and inspiring historical figure, not to mention the fact that he IS the Son of God. In addition to Christ, I am inspired by my wife, Jessica, because she makes up for many of the things that I lack. I am also inspired by my mother, Debra Pettit, who is one of the kindest women alive.

Is there anything else you would like to share? About you? I was in the Air Force for four years. I have skydived more than twenty times. I have met Willie Nelson twice.