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Tom received a B.A. in Social Studies Education from Brigham Young University- Idaho, and an M.S. in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. He has worked as a group leader and assistant director for a summer camp program, as a full-time teacher, and has coached kids from age 5 years old up through the high school varsity level. Tom has worked with students who are diagnosed with severe emotional disturbance, gang involved students, and those considered “at-risk”. He has also taught students with special needs, and advanced/gifted students. He has mentored and encouraged many youth, including helping some young men prepare, and some choose to go on full-time missions.
Tom played basketball in high school and also sang in the audition choir. He had an incredible and sacred experience serving as a missionary in Long Beach, California. Today he is an AP and Honors Geography teacher in the Salt Lake City area. He has served in the Stake Young Men’s Presidency and as the Stake Executive Secretary, but often ends up teaching Sunday School. He is the author of the essay My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (under the pseudonym Shawn McKinnon) in the book, Voices of Hope: Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Same-Gender Attraction – An Anthology of Gospel Teachings and Personal Essays, by Ty Mansfield. He has presented to parents and church leaders at the North Star Conference and helped to run the Youth Track. He was featured as the single guy in the TLC Network special: My Husband’s Not Gay. He is still single, but has exceptional friends.
