Born in 1980 in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, I received my father's name of Walter Michael Kaelin.  For those utterly curious as to where I received my nom de guerre "Beau," it was from my mother who realized the future complications that might arise from having two people living in the same house under one name.  So she picked a name purely at random out of a name book.  There you go.  There's no witty anecdote behind it though you may create one if you do so desire.

My family was a nomadic sort, so we moved hither and thither for most of my life.  We set up home in various regions about the area (Fairdale, Brooks, Shepherdsville) but never straying to far from the city of my birth.  I now reside in southern Shepherdsville where my family last settled.  Do I have siblings, you ask.  Yes, I have two younger brothers.

When I try to figure out when I started to become fascinated with the biological world, I would have to say in the first and second grades.  At this point in my life, we were living in a home in Fairdale horribly infested with brown recluses (a spider, for those unfamiliar, is the second most venomous arachnid in the United States).  I became fascinated with these spiders partially though my slight paranoia towards them.  For me, an irrational fear of some aspect of nature tends to lead to an inherent respect.  After that, I became fascinated with bugs and the marvelous realm of science in which they resided. 

By the time I hit high school, I had pretty much decided that I wanted to study Biology in college. I did not know what I wanted to do with my degree after graduating college though.  As I progressed through my high school program, I began to find that I had more in common with the teachers than my fellow students. They tended to have the same caliber wit and mentality as myself.  I was envious of the respect they commanded as well. I soon came to the conclusion that I would go into teaching after acquiring my Bachelor's in Biology.

The transition from high school to college was not easy for me.  The sensation of anonymity became burdensome at times and I struggled for my first year.  However, after that I got my "collegiate legs" and was soon back on track, graduating with a 3.3 GPA by the time I was done.  Deciding not to waste any time, I began my graduate program two days after I completed my undergraduate, missing my own graduation for my first day of graduate school.  

Here, the passion for teaching really took hold of me.  I was in awe of the awesome responsibility all teachers are bestowed when they are asked to shape young adolescents into the men and women of the future.  I shot through my graduate program with even greater dedication to it than my degree in Biology, graduating with a 3.98 GPA. My advisor Dr. Andrew Kemp was both a great help and inspiration for me to stay dedicated during this time.

By far the most powerful, as well as the toughest,  aspect of my program was the semester of student teaching.  I "served my time" at Atherton High School in Louisville, KY under the watchful eye of veteran teacher Ed Farrar.   Though all future teachers take multiple courses in lesson planning, pedagogy, and classroom management, nothing quite prepares you for your first couple days of teaching.  In fact, I received a bit of a "trial by fire" when Mr. Farrar fell ill during my first day and was absent for the next two school weeks.  

This period was extremely difficult for me, because I was still uncertain as to where many of the resources in the school were located, my students regarded me with distrust for I was attempting to teach them in the absence of their usual instructor, and I was determined not to lose these students to apathy.  So I spent many a long hour after school let out toiling over what I would do with my students the next day.  In the end though, things worked out for the better and Mr. Farrar returned on a day when most of the students were being tested on a unit I had formulated and taught to them. 

This brings me to a topic about which I tend to be a bit overly-zealous and that is work ethic.  Whenever I take on a task or duty, I feel it is my highest priority to see said task or duty through to its completion without faltering.  In turn, I expect nothing less of my students.  I think it is my job as a teacher serve as a role model to this attitude as well as endeavor to inspire students so that they think nothing less of themselves.  It can often be seen as a curse instead of a blessing to some, because it takes a great deal of unrelenting work on my part.  However, I personally believe nothing in life comes easy, nor is it simply handed to you without effort.  

In the way of my work history, I will attest that I have not received a full-time teaching position since my graduation in August 2004, though acquisition of this is my ultimate goal.  Currently, I am working as a manager of Baxter Avenue Theatres in Louisville, KY where I have been stationed since 1999.  Not only has this job helped me pay my way through college, but the authority that is expected of me has helped me develop my various techniques of management of adolescents both outside the classroom and in.  Before that, I worked at Natural Wonders in Oxmoor Mall and Feeder's Supply on Preston Highway- two jobs that helped further my passion for the animal kingdom, and as silly as it may sound, the working world.  

That is about all you're going to get out of me here.  If you want to find out more, you're just going to have to call me in for an interview.  Sorry, but that's the way the world goes.  You can't get everything for nothing.  Still, here are a few more vital stats if you are interested.

Basic Stats:

Full Name: Walter Michael Kaelin Jr.

Birth Year: 1980

Nickname: Beau

Hobbies/Interests: Film, archery, drawing, and writing (I am currently working on my first novel).

Work History:

St. Francis DeSales High School - Office Aide (Fall 1996 - Spring 1998)

Natural Wonders (Oxmoor Mall Location) - Sales rep. (October 1996 - January 1997)

Feeder's Supply (Preston Hwy. Location) - Head Cashier (February 15, 1997 - July 10, 1999)

Baxter Avenue Theatres - Manager (July 13, 1999 - present)

WonderFest USA - Programming Crew (May 2000 - present)

Bullitt County Public School System - Substitute Teacher (December 2004 to June 2005)

Bullitt Central High School - Science Teacher: Integrated Science (July 2005 to present)

Education history:

Middle School: St. Thomas More - Louisville, KY (Fall 1991 - Spring 1994)

High School: St. Francis of DeSales High School - Louisville, KY (Fall 1994 - Spring 1998). GPA - 3.9. Graduated May 23, 1998.

Undergraduate: University of Louisville School of Arts and Sciences - Louisville, KY (Fall 1998 - Spring 2003).  GPA - 3.3.  Graduated May 10, 2003. Attained BA in Biology.

Graduate: University of Louisville School of Education - Louisville, KY (Summer 2003 - Summer 2004).  GPA - 3.98. Graduated August 20, 2004. Attained MA in Teaching.

Student Teaching: 

Location: Atherton High School - Louisville, KY (January 5, 2004 - April 23, 2004)

Supervising Teacher: Ed Farrar

Supervising Principal: John Hudson

Supervising Professor/Advisor: Dr. Andrew Kemp

University Coordinator: Bobby Green, retired JCPS principal  

Email: scardol@yahoo.com