John brings 31 years of varied educational work experience to FBRA. He began his career teaching social studies in an urban public high school in San Antonio, Texas. Seeing a need to engage at-risk students during the summers, he developed and led outdoor programs that involved travel experiences. Looking for some adventure, John was accepted into the JET Programme and taught English at Namerikawa High School in Toyama, Japan. Returning to the US after two years in Japan and five months of travel in Oceania, John taught middle and high school math in a small school near Austin, Texas. John and his wife Elizabeth moved to WNC in 1998, where John taught at Valley Springs Middle School and secured his National Board Certification in middle school language arts. John then moved to Carolina Day School, where he spent nine years as MS Assistant Principal and two years as MS Principal. He also served on the Leadership Team and Curriculum Committee at Carolina Day School.

John enjoys spending time with his wife, Elizabeth, and two sons, John Kelly and Charlie, whether they are cooking, traveling, hiking, or debating around the dinner table.