Biography - Jim
Hi! My name is Jim, though I am often referred to as Mr. P by members of the team, or JIM when they really want to get my attention. I am a teacher at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH, USA and am in my 33rd and final year of teaching here. Prior to that, I taught at White Mountain Regional High in the northern part of New Hampshire, at New Iberia Senior High in Louisiana, and at the International School of Torino in Italy. Also of importance is the fact that my wife of 38 years and I have been blessed to date with three great kids and four adorable grandchildren.
Now, on to the team! My involvement in this year's team is quite unique. Kishore emailed me at the beginning of the year, telling me he was coaching a team and asking me if I would be his team's primary coach again (we had worked together in last year's competition too). I told him that I was already coaching a team and that if I did this, I could take care of the paperwork, but might find it challenging to focus on the actual coaching itself. I explained that my reasons for this were twofold. First of all, with my teaching load, coaching one team, and doing it well, was all that I thought I could handle. Secondly, since I was already coaching one team, I felt that if I might not be able to do justice to my first team due to time constraints and conflicts which might arise. I offered to find him another coach but in the end, he said he preferred me. Because of my friendship and deep respect for him, I agreed, took on the position, and registered the team.
My role on the team was to check up on the progress of the site on the macro scale, and work with Laura and Erika in handling the deadlines and workload for the Spanish translation of the site. Majority of the actual coaching, mentoring, and coordinating were done exclusively by Kishore. He has assembled an impressive cadre of people who appear to be very supportive of one another. And with Kishore at the helm, they have developed a site that all who are associated with it can be truly proud of. I thank Kishore for inviting me to the team and wish them the best in this competition.