About me
2021
Dear Parents or Guardian,
Hello, my name is Mr. Faulkner. I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to work with your child this new school year at Oconee County Middle School. I will be teaching Social Studies in the 7th grade and preparing my students for 8th grade next year.
I am a graduate of Piedmont College in Athens, GA, where I obtained my degree in Middle Grades Education (grades 4-8). I was born in Athens, GA and I have lived around the Bethlehem/Oconee County area all of my life. My wife and I currently live in Watkinsville, along with our two boys. My wife and I both graduated from Oconee County High School.
Before Piedmont College, I graduated from Georgia Military College with my general studies degree. I then attended Gwinnett Technical College where I earned my degree in Photography. While at GTC I did my internship with The University of Georgia Athletic Department where I continued to work as a sports photographer for almost 10 years. I also have worked at The Continuing Education Department at UGA where I taught a number of photography classes for 9 years. I usually worked on the weekends, which allowed me to balance photography and my family. Before I began teaching full time I was a stay-at-home dad with both of my boys.
I have more hobbies than I have time for, including; photography, running, coaching, fishing, hiking, four wheeler riding, horse back riding, hunting, going to the lake with my family, and traveling. I absolutely love to travel and have been fortunate enough to travel to All 50 U.S. States. If I had one state other than Georgia to choose to live in it would have to be Montana. I have also been to many different countries including; Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, and to the Bahamas. Visiting all of these places has given me a great perspective and understanding of different cultures and different ways of living. I love to see how things are so different from country to country and even from state to state. I also love to see and visit the different historical sites and soak in all they have to offer, and now I will be able to teach all I have learned thus far to my students.
I have wanted to become a Social Studies teacher for more years than I can remember now. That was my first choice when I first attended college, but I got side tracked by photography. But then, in 2007, my wife and I visited Pearl Harbor while on our honeymoon in Hawaii. It was so fascinating and interesting to me. We stood there over the top of The USS Arizona and watched as the oil bubbled out from the ship. We boarded the USS Missouri that watches over the soldiers that are resting on the ocean floor. It was all so cool for my wife and I to see. That night back on board our ship I started researching more about Pearl Harbor. I wanted to know more and more. That night I thought to myself that it would be so cool to become a history teacher, and be able to teach my students about Pearl Harbor, so that is exactly what I did.
I am looking forward to another great year here at OCMS. I will be expecting the best from all of my student’s as I will give them my best and preparing them for 8th grade next year, and then high school the following year. As always, my door will be open to everyone, so please don't hesitate to come by and visit me.
Sincerely,
Mr. Faulkner
OCMS 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Dear Parents or Guardian,
Hello, my name is Mr. Faulkner. I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to work with your child this new school year at Oconee County Middle School. I will be teaching Social Studies in the 7th grade and preparing my students for 8th grade next year.
I am a graduate of Piedmont College in Athens, GA, where I obtained my degree in Middle Grades Education (grades 4-8). I was born in Athens, GA and I have lived around the Bethlehem/Oconee County area all of my life. My wife and I currently live in Watkinsville, along with our two boys. My wife and I both graduated from Oconee County High School.
Before Piedmont College, I graduated from Georgia Military College with my general studies degree. I then attended Gwinnett Technical College where I earned my degree in Photography. While at GTC I did my internship with The University of Georgia Athletic Department where I continued to work as a sports photographer for almost 10 years. I also have worked at The Continuing Education Department at UGA where I taught a number of photography classes for 9 years. I usually worked on the weekends, which allowed me to balance photography and my family. Before I began teaching full time I was a stay-at-home dad with both of my boys.
I have more hobbies than I have time for, including; photography, running, coaching, fishing, hiking, four wheeler riding, horse back riding, hunting, going to the lake with my family, and traveling. I absolutely love to travel and have been fortunate enough to travel to All 50 U.S. States. If I had one state other than Georgia to choose to live in it would have to be Montana. I have also been to many different countries including; Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, and to the Bahamas. Visiting all of these places has given me a great perspective and understanding of different cultures and different ways of living. I love to see how things are so different from country to country and even from state to state. I also love to see and visit the different historical sites and soak in all they have to offer, and now I will be able to teach all I have learned thus far to my students.
I have wanted to become a Social Studies teacher for more years than I can remember now. That was my first choice when I first attended college, but I got side tracked by photography. But then, in 2007, my wife and I visited Pearl Harbor while on our honeymoon in Hawaii. It was so fascinating and interesting to me. We stood there over the top of The USS Arizona and watched as the oil bubbled out from the ship. We boarded the USS Missouri that watches over the soldiers that are resting on the ocean floor. It was all so cool for my wife and I to see. That night back on board our ship I started researching more about Pearl Harbor. I wanted to know more and more. That night I thought to myself that it would be so cool to become a history teacher, and be able to teach my students about Pearl Harbor, so that is exactly what I did.
I am looking forward to another great year here at OCMS. I will be expecting the best from all of my student’s as I will give them my best and preparing them for 8th grade next year, and then high school the following year. As always, my door will be open to everyone, so please don't hesitate to come by and visit me.
Sincerely,
Mr. Faulkner
OCMS 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher