In 1999, I began my teaching career at Long Beach Poly. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and in all reality I just needed a job. How the hell does a small town kid from Duncan, Oklahoma via Baylor University end up teaching at a place so different and magical from where he came from. When I interviewed for the position, I was so scared to death. I didn't throw up but almost. Andy Osmond did a great job of impressing upon me, that this was a well established program and if I got the job, there would be big shoes to fill. I remember in the interview, with Shawn Ashley, talking about my classroom management plan and how I would enforce such a management plan. Seems pretty ridiculous now that I think about it. In that interview there were two students, David Goodwin and Kristen Engbrecht-Bleem(sp). I remember they were super serious. I don't remember any specifics of their questions but the vibe was how do we get better, win Riverside and Fullerton Jazz Festival and it was quite obvious they loved Bill McIntosh. Needless to say I was a bit intimidated. I also interviewed at El Segundo USD. They made me a job offer but it was teaching band and choir at the middle school and high school. I gave them a verbal commitment but I did not want to do it. I had no desire to teach band. I was hoping and praying the Poly would work out. Any way, I got the call from Andy Osmond to join the team.
Working at Poly and living in Long Beach was a different experience for me. I grew up in the sticks of Western Oklahoma on 2 acres. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I got to Long Beach. I fell in love with Belmont Shore and living so close to the ocean. I can still picture my drive to work every morning on Ocean Blvd. One morning, while driving to work, I was going a little too fast and the LBPD pulled me over. Where I grew up, we always got out of the car to go and talk with the police officer. I did that as I always had. In Long Beach, cops don't appreciate that and the officer drew his gun with lightning speed. Lets just say, I don't get out of my car anymore when I get pulled over for speeding. Upon moving to Long Beach, as a college graduation gift, I was given a 10'0" Harbour Banana Surfboard. I didn't know anyone when moving to Long Beach, all I had basically was this surf board. All I did on the weekends for the first 6 months was go to the beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach Tower 22. Even though I have lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since 2003, I have never lost my love for the ocean and surfing. My 10'0" Banana hangs in the garage today.
The memories that have stuck with me the most from my years in Long Beach are having to get up for 0 period, Chamber Singers. What a beat down!! I hated getting up that early. I don't know how I did it for so long. It was way to early to be singing.
Chamber Singers Fall Retreat when I gave Jesse Chartier a black eye and Jeremy Meats a bloody nose while we were boxing. Pretty stupid when you think about it.
All the times, I went snowboarding with Jesse Chartier, Jon Tillman and Chris Redgate. Good times!!
Busting out the hymnals to teach you guys sight reading and kicking everyones ass at the Riverside sight-reading competition.
San O' with Redgate and sometimes Chartier.
We ruled Riverside the years I was there. Nobody could beat us. That was great.
Always finishing second place at Fullerton Jazz Fest. Damn it...
Traveling to London and Paris.
Cynitra(sp) loosing her passport twice on the way to Paris
North Sea Jazz Festival. Much awesomeness
Singing for Moses Hogan in Utah.
Samba Santa!!!!
Driving to Compton with Aaron Arnwine. Eye opening!!
Jamming with Mike Gray and Paul Gonzalez.
Lunch time pep rallies in the quad.
I look back upon my time in the LBC with much affection. It was just about the only part of my teaching career that I look upon fondly. We left Long Beach to be closer to family after Patrick was born. That was our only reason for leaving. Sometimes I regret that but now my parents and in-laws are getting older so I am glad to be here in Dallas close to them. I am no longer a teacher. I stopped teaching in 2010. I work in IT as Database Administrator. Here is a link to another site I created basically as a knowledge share for all the coding and scripting I do. thesurfingdba.weebly.com
I have uploaded some of the pics I have. I have more and will get those up when I can.
I miss music sometimes. I miss the performances but not the day-to-day of being a teacher. I hope you are all well. Please reach out to me if you want and let me now how you are doing. My email address is below and on the contact page.
Michael D'Spain
[email protected]
Working at Poly and living in Long Beach was a different experience for me. I grew up in the sticks of Western Oklahoma on 2 acres. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I got to Long Beach. I fell in love with Belmont Shore and living so close to the ocean. I can still picture my drive to work every morning on Ocean Blvd. One morning, while driving to work, I was going a little too fast and the LBPD pulled me over. Where I grew up, we always got out of the car to go and talk with the police officer. I did that as I always had. In Long Beach, cops don't appreciate that and the officer drew his gun with lightning speed. Lets just say, I don't get out of my car anymore when I get pulled over for speeding. Upon moving to Long Beach, as a college graduation gift, I was given a 10'0" Harbour Banana Surfboard. I didn't know anyone when moving to Long Beach, all I had basically was this surf board. All I did on the weekends for the first 6 months was go to the beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach Tower 22. Even though I have lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since 2003, I have never lost my love for the ocean and surfing. My 10'0" Banana hangs in the garage today.
The memories that have stuck with me the most from my years in Long Beach are having to get up for 0 period, Chamber Singers. What a beat down!! I hated getting up that early. I don't know how I did it for so long. It was way to early to be singing.
Chamber Singers Fall Retreat when I gave Jesse Chartier a black eye and Jeremy Meats a bloody nose while we were boxing. Pretty stupid when you think about it.
All the times, I went snowboarding with Jesse Chartier, Jon Tillman and Chris Redgate. Good times!!
Busting out the hymnals to teach you guys sight reading and kicking everyones ass at the Riverside sight-reading competition.
San O' with Redgate and sometimes Chartier.
We ruled Riverside the years I was there. Nobody could beat us. That was great.
Always finishing second place at Fullerton Jazz Fest. Damn it...
Traveling to London and Paris.
Cynitra(sp) loosing her passport twice on the way to Paris
North Sea Jazz Festival. Much awesomeness
Singing for Moses Hogan in Utah.
Samba Santa!!!!
Driving to Compton with Aaron Arnwine. Eye opening!!
Jamming with Mike Gray and Paul Gonzalez.
Lunch time pep rallies in the quad.
I look back upon my time in the LBC with much affection. It was just about the only part of my teaching career that I look upon fondly. We left Long Beach to be closer to family after Patrick was born. That was our only reason for leaving. Sometimes I regret that but now my parents and in-laws are getting older so I am glad to be here in Dallas close to them. I am no longer a teacher. I stopped teaching in 2010. I work in IT as Database Administrator. Here is a link to another site I created basically as a knowledge share for all the coding and scripting I do. thesurfingdba.weebly.com
I have uploaded some of the pics I have. I have more and will get those up when I can.
I miss music sometimes. I miss the performances but not the day-to-day of being a teacher. I hope you are all well. Please reach out to me if you want and let me now how you are doing. My email address is below and on the contact page.
Michael D'Spain
[email protected]