A second chance
In 2010, I was involved in a devastating car accident, which I was blessed to even survive. Living through the accident wasn’t the only blessing I received. Doctors were astonished by how quickly I recovered. I spent three weeks in a coma and another four months in rehabilitation, and doctors initially believed I could need as much as two years of rehabilitation.
By the grace of God, I made it home.
That experience changed my life. It deepened my faith and gave me a different perspective on the value of every opportunity, every relationship, and every day God gives us. My faith became the foundation of everything I do, shaping the decisions I’ve made, the people I’ve met, and the path that eventually brought me to the Philippines.
Discovering teaching
My first experience teaching English came during a church mission trip to the Czech Republic. I went there to serve, but I came home having discovered something I didn’t expect: I loved teaching.
I’ve always enjoyed talking with people and helping others, so teaching felt natural to me. That experience showed me that teaching wasn’t simply something I could do—it was something I genuinely enjoyed.
Later, I studied education at Texas Tech University, where I was honored to be on the Dean’s List. English has always been one of my strongest subjects. I took honors English in high school and tested out of my university-level English courses.
But becoming a teacher taught me something I never fully understood before: ENGLISH IS HARD! The more I teach, the more I appreciate just how complicated this language can be. Rules, exceptions, pronunciation, idioms, and expressions can make English incredibly difficult to learn. What comes naturally to a native speaker can be surprisingly confusing to someone learning English as another language.
Understanding that has made me a more patient and encouraging teacher. I don’t expect perfection from my students. I want them to keep learning, keep trying, and keep growing—and to feel comfortable making mistakes along the way.
Why I teach
I am a CELTA-certified English teacher, holding one of the world’s most widely recognized qualifications for teaching English to speakers of other languages. I have taught with PAGODA Education Group for years, working with professionals who are determined to continue learning and improving despite busy careers and lives. Their determination inspires me to give my best to every student.
Teaching, however, is only one part of my story. Before becoming a teacher, I spent many years working in very different environments and experiencing different ways of life. For about ten years, I worked as a supervisor for my dad’s construction company, overseeing construction projects for the Texas Highway Department. I’ve also worked as a cowboy, riding horses and caring for cattle, and spent time working at a winery in Napa Valley, California.
These experiences have allowed me to meet and work with people from many different backgrounds. They’ve taught me about responsibility, hard work, leadership, and the importance of being able to communicate with the people around you. More than anything, they’ve given me an appreciation for the fact that everyone has a different story.
I think that matters when you’re a teacher. Every student comes to a lesson with a different background, different experiences, and different reasons for wanting to improve their English. I don’t want to treat every student the same. I want to get to know the person I’m teaching and help them become a more confident English speaker in a way that works for them.
I genuinely care about my students and their success. I hope to be more than just their teacher—I want to be someone they feel comfortable talking with, learning from, and coming to for advice.
Most importantly, I want every student to leave a lesson feeling cared for, more knowledgeable, and a little more confident using English.
Why Cornerstone?
I created Cornerstone English Coaching because I wanted to build something that reflects the kind of teacher I want to be: personal, encouraging, flexible, and genuinely invested in my students.
After teaching for years, I realized that the best lessons aren’t about simply following a script or working through a textbook. They’re about the person on the other side of the conversation. Every student has different goals, different strengths, and different challenges, and I wanted the freedom to build lessons around the individual rather than try to fit everyone into the same mold.
At Cornerstone, I want my students to have a place where they can learn without feeling embarrassed about making mistakes. I want our lessons to be practical, conversational, and focused on helping students use English with greater confidence in the real world.
But more than anything, I want my students to know that I genuinely care about them. I hope Cornerstone becomes a place where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their experiences, and challenging themselves to grow.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy working out, watching sports, spending time with friends and family, and following college football. And yes—WRECK ’EM TECH!
My family
My family is at the center of my life.
I’m blessed with a devoted wife who is a dedicated Christian and an accomplished singer. She is a member of Coro Cantabile, a highly respected Christian choral group in the Philippines that has performed both locally and internationally and was awarded a UNESCO Gold Medal in Athens, Greece.
I’m also the proud father of a brilliant, outgoing daughter who has a gift for making friends wherever she goes. Her heart for others is humbling to me, and I am so honored to be her dad. They are two of God’s greatest blessings in my life.
I am also extremely close to my two brothers, and they have been an important part of my life. My family was there for me through some of the most difficult moments following my accident, and their love and support helped me tremendously throughout my recovery. I truly don’t know how I would have made it through that time without them.
I am especially grateful for my mom, who has always been there for me with incredible love, encouragement, and support. I am also thankful for my dad and stepmom and for the ways they have supported me throughout my life. My family has been a tremendous blessing, and I will always be grateful for the people who stood beside me when I needed them most.
My faith is the driving force behind everything I do. It is part of the reason I moved to the Philippines, part of the reason I started Cornerstone English Coaching, and the reason I want others to know the God I serve.
My goal for you
At Cornerstone, my goal is simple: I want to help you become more fluent, more confident, and more comfortable using English in the real world.
Learning a language takes time, practice, and patience. My goal is to help you keep improving while building the confidence to try, make mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward.
Building Confidence. Developing Fluency.