ABOUT ME
My Education
Personal & Professional
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If I could perpetually be outdoors, I would be. I exist most comfortably surrounded by flora, fresh earth, flowing water, and bright blue skies, though winter demands me bound indoors at times. My second favorite environment is the classroom. My name is Mark Seymour. I was born in Flint, Michigan and raised in nearby Flushing, but I now call Petoskey, Michigan my home. I am an educator. My wife and two sons are what keep me going. We ski, camp, fish, hunt, make music together, and enjoy our humble home in the north, though my eldest is now carving his own path at Michigan State University. I am a first generation college graduate from my family and it is imperative that my children have this same opportunity.
My wife Nicole and I made a life altering plan in 2007 to live in northern Michigan and to both have teaching positions within 5 years. We gained degrees from University of Michigan-Flint, put in our notices, and made the move. It took both of us leaving established careers, returning to college, and uprooting ourselves and our children to a new home. We’ve faced many challenges, but feel that we have finally found a sustainable path of providing for our family and now, providing a high quality education to our students.
I bring a wealth of experiences into the classroom. I was a practicing musician for many years, playing contemporary popular music all around the State of Michigan. A guitar hangs on my classroom wall and when I can use music to enrich or enhance a lesson, I rarely hesitate.
I am also a self taught artist and have had the opportunity to create and sell my works by various means to a wide audience. I love to create and I bring that artistic spirit into the classroom as well.
While I did not attend MSU as an undergrad, I did reside in East Lansing for about four years while my wife attended the university. Outside of northern Michigan, MSU’s campus is one of my favorite places to be. And despite the incredibly challenging nature of being a full time educator, full time parent and spouse, and full time human, I am grateful to finally be a Spartan grad, a long sought after goal. In December 2022 I received a Master's Degree in Education and Graduate Certification in Online Teaching.
My experience includes my time at The University of Michigan-Flint from which I graduated with High Honors and a degree in Elementary Education in 2014. After our move to Petoskey, MI in 2015, I gained a whole new set of skills working in the service industry, but was eventually able to find a position at Petoskey Middle School as a Title I Aide in 2018. It was acquiring this position that allowed me to enroll in a year-long residency program through Saginaw Valley State University to gain a Secondary Certificate to teach 6-12 English. I was certified that spring and hired at Concord Academy Boyne charter school in the fall of 2019 where I taught grades 6-12 English for that school year. I then left Concord for an opportunity to teach 6-8 ELA and 8th Grade U.S. History at Alanson Public Schools, where I honed my practice and even started an after school rock band program for our middle school students. During the summer months I have worked along side my eldest son volunteering for Little Traverse Conservancy by improving and building new trails, clearing debris and aiding staff in various projects. During my time at Alanson Public Schools I was also able to participate in outdoor education programming with our students through LTC's educational programs. This was a partnership I truly enjoyed, combining teaching with that ability to be outdoors.
Even though my search for new and exciting experiences in the field of education is ongoing, I have taken an opportunity to teach secondary English at Boyne City High School in northern Michigan. This position is special because it allows me to work alongside my wife Nicole, partnering in our shared endeavors. Looking back at our initial goal from 2007, I never would have imagined that we would be teaching in the same district, let alone the same building. We currently teach 9th and 12th Grade English. Our classrooms are adjacent and it is one of the best possible outcomes we could have imagined all those years ago.
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I started my formal education at Central Elementary in Flushing MI, with Mrs. Kleckner in Kindergarten where I learned the hard way that you can't just leave the playground and walk home alone in the middle of the school day. Sorry Mrs. K. I left Central at the ending of 6th Grade and having one of my favorite teachers that year, Mr. Moore who insisted we say "yes" and "no" instead of yeah and nah, not to mention please and thank you. He's the teacher I still want to be.
Next stop, the "wonder years" at Flushing Junior High School. These were the magical social formation years, but also where I began to struggle academically, not truly recovering until I reached college. But this is also where Mr. Kelly got me out of a pinch with some school bullies. Thank you, sir.
Flushing High School. Four years of Varisty Hockey, challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. Mr. Harshfield, Mr. Martin, Mr. Gandolfi, Mr. Dean, I had some of the greats. This also is where I met the love of my life and future spouse. I would not be a teacher without her. True story.
I attended Mott Community College the fall after high school graduation. I pursued general studies, but took one Arts Education class and several English and writings classes that would shape my future as a teacher. I attended one and a half years after I was granted a small scholarship applied for on my behalf by my high school hockey coach. Thank you Coach Brown, it's made all the differenence.
I attended The University of Michigan-Flint from 2010-2014. I graduated with High Honors with a B.S. in Elementary Education, realizing at the end of the program that I in fact prefered to teach at a secondary level. We're always learning, even those difficult lessons.
Petoskey Middle School. After our move to northern Michigan, this was the first educational position I had since my graduation from U of M-Flint, almost four years later. I was hired as an Academic Aide which started the path to my own classroom.
This is where life gets serendipitous. I was able to attend a teacher residency program through Saginaw Valley State University with the cooperation of then Petoskey Schools Superintendent Dr. John Scholten and Middle School Principal, Mr. John Wilcox. I owe them my deepest gratitutude for this opportunity. I likely wouldn't be teaching without their assistance.
By 2019 I already had a great deal of classroom experience through training, student teaching, substitute teaching, and working as an aide. It was Mrs. Leist at Concord Academy Boyne charter school who offered me the first classroom of my own. I taught 6-12 English for a year, including the begining of Covid-19 in which we spent the end of the year remotely teaching and learning. It was an unforgetable year for sure.
In the summer of 2020, teachers were leaving the classroom and opportunities were many. I had two offers to teach in my area. I chose to accept a position at Alanson Schools where I taught for two years of 6-8 ELA. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you Mrs. Cook and all the amazing staff in this small but mighty district.
Current position. I began the 2022-23 school year at Boyne City High School. I am still in a district in which I feel I can most effectively grow my practice. I work along side my wife and a wonderful staff and student population. Let's Go Ramblers!
My son and I on the campus of MSU in front of Beaumont Tower. He, a new freshman. Me, a graduate student. The MAED program at MSU was an amazing experience. It was rigorous, but also incredibly rewarding. It has moved my teaching practice much further than I could have imagined since those first few days in my own classroom. A tremendous thank you to all my professors who pushed me to excel yet supported every step of the way. This is an amazing program. Go Green!