Andrew Kemp for Columbia County BOE
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I am running for the District 3 seat on the Columbia County Board of Education. With the exception of one year, I have been a teacher or student since I was five. I was a public school English teacher and program coordinator for 10 years, taught ESOL for one year overseas, and am currently a faculty member in the College of Education at Augusta University. My goal is to make learning meaningful for students so that they can not only succeed, but thrive.
I like to be upfront about myself. Because of the importance of the education of our youth, I feel that knowing who I am is important. My name is Andrew (Drew) Kemp. I am a father of two wonderful daughters who are both students in Columbia County Public Schools. I consider myself a life long educator. From the time I entered preschool in 1974, I have been a teacher or student for my entire life (with the exception of one year in which I worked for my father and got married...that was an entirely different learning experience).
I have a B.A. in English from the University of South Florida. I attended Stetson University for two years, but transferred to USF to complete my degree. After taking a year off from school (working for my father and getting married), my wife and I moved to South Dakota where I earned a Master’s in Education from South Dakota State University.
I wanted to see snow.
It was here that I knew I would be in the profession forever. And, it was at this time, that I realized that some day I would go into higher education as a professor of education.
After living in South Dakota for three years, my wife and I moved to the Republic of the Marshall Islands where I taught English for Speakers of Other Languages in a native school. We had a Ditto machine, one computer, 25 textbooks and rarely had electricity or water. I learned to teach by teaching. No bells. No whistles. Just students and a room.
After this year overseas, we moved back to the United States and back to where I grew up in Melbourne, Florida. I took a position at Rockledge High School teaching Career Research, SAT Prep, and English. Over the next ten years I taught everything from remedial ninth grade English through Advanced Placement Language and Composition. During the last two years, I was a program administrator.
It was during this time I started my doctorate at the University of Central Florida. After a grueling four years, I graduated with my Doctor of Education and almost immediately took a faculty position at Northern Illinois University. To be honest, I didn’t love the university. I needed to move back to the South.
I started at Augusta State University in 2010 in the teacher education program. I then taught at Georgia Regents University for two years and now teach at Augusta University. Conveniently, I didn’t have to move.
Now, I am an associate professor in the Department of Advanced Studies and Innovation. I teach graduate courses in curriculum studies, pedagogy, and research. I have worked in schools. I have worked with schools. I have taught many of the teachers that teach your children.
On a personal level, I am a political liberal and Buddhist. I know this might turn some of you off, but education is not about politics. Education is about doing what we can to create the most effective means for teaching all students. I am outspoken and passionate about what I do. I feel that the best way that we can help our future is through the education of our youth.
Finally, in 2015, my wife passed away after a long illness. Fifteen months later my father died. However, I am now happily in a relationship with a wonderful woman that fulfills me. My children are wonderful people that care deeply about the people around them.
I think that this should be a goal for everyone.
The purpose of this GoFundMe campaign is to raise funds for my campaign for a seat on the Columbia County School Board. The election is next year, but I want to know what people think about education.
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I am running for the District 3 seat on the Columbia County Board of Education. With the exception of one year, I have been a teacher or student since I was five. I was a public school English teacher and program coordinator for 10 years, taught ESOL for one year overseas, and am currently a faculty member in the College of Education at Augusta University. My goal is to make learning meaningful for students so that they can not only succeed, but thrive.
I like to be upfront about myself. Because of the importance of the education of our youth, I feel that knowing who I am is important. My name is Andrew (Drew) Kemp. I am a father of two wonderful daughters who are both students in Columbia County Public Schools. I consider myself a life long educator. From the time I entered preschool in 1974, I have been a teacher or student for my entire life (with the exception of one year in which I worked for my father and got married...that was an entirely different learning experience).
I have a B.A. in English from the University of South Florida. I attended Stetson University for two years, but transferred to USF to complete my degree. After taking a year off from school (working for my father and getting married), my wife and I moved to South Dakota where I earned a Master’s in Education from South Dakota State University.
I wanted to see snow.
It was here that I knew I would be in the profession forever. And, it was at this time, that I realized that some day I would go into higher education as a professor of education.
After living in South Dakota for three years, my wife and I moved to the Republic of the Marshall Islands where I taught English for Speakers of Other Languages in a native school. We had a Ditto machine, one computer, 25 textbooks and rarely had electricity or water. I learned to teach by teaching. No bells. No whistles. Just students and a room.
After this year overseas, we moved back to the United States and back to where I grew up in Melbourne, Florida. I took a position at Rockledge High School teaching Career Research, SAT Prep, and English. Over the next ten years I taught everything from remedial ninth grade English through Advanced Placement Language and Composition. During the last two years, I was a program administrator.
It was during this time I started my doctorate at the University of Central Florida. After a grueling four years, I graduated with my Doctor of Education and almost immediately took a faculty position at Northern Illinois University. To be honest, I didn’t love the university. I needed to move back to the South.
I started at Augusta State University in 2010 in the teacher education program. I then taught at Georgia Regents University for two years and now teach at Augusta University. Conveniently, I didn’t have to move.
Now, I am an associate professor in the Department of Advanced Studies and Innovation. I teach graduate courses in curriculum studies, pedagogy, and research. I have worked in schools. I have worked with schools. I have taught many of the teachers that teach your children.
On a personal level, I am a political liberal and Buddhist. I know this might turn some of you off, but education is not about politics. Education is about doing what we can to create the most effective means for teaching all students. I am outspoken and passionate about what I do. I feel that the best way that we can help our future is through the education of our youth.
Finally, in 2015, my wife passed away after a long illness. Fifteen months later my father died. However, I am now happily in a relationship with a wonderful woman that fulfills me. My children are wonderful people that care deeply about the people around them.
I think that this should be a goal for everyone.
The purpose of this GoFundMe campaign is to raise funds for my campaign for a seat on the Columbia County School Board. The election is next year, but I want to know what people think about education.
Organizer
Andrew Kemp
Organizer
Evans, GA
