CRAIG HOYT GILMAN'S BIOGRAPHY

CURRENTLY: In the spring of 2008 I took a position in programs and marketing with American Public University System to assist in the development and promotion of their new education programs.  This entailed a geographical move from Virginia Beach to Leesburg, Virginia.  Leesburg isn't quite Virginia Beach, but is close to a number of freshwater fishing waters.  I am learning to fish for Smallmouth and so far my favorite spot to fish is Point of Rocks, on the Potomac between Virginia and Maryland. 

Here is a simple autobiography.

During the school years encompassing 2006-2008 I  joined Corporate Landing Middle School where I taught Civics and Economics to eighth graders.  During my second year I was an assistant girls' soccer coach.  While in Virginia Beach, when not busy teaching, I can be found fishing from my kayak in and in the various inlets, bays, and ocean in the Tidewater area, swimming and body surfing at the beach, bowling at Pinboys, hanging out with friends, or riding my mountain bike along the boardwalk or in the many parks in Virginia Beach.

In the fall of 2005 I successfully completed my MS Education at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. 

I taught high school social studies at Korea International School.  I taught there for three years (2002-2005).  It being a new school, I established the school's first student council, model United Nations organization, and student volunteer corps.  Perhaps my greatest contribution was organizing a trip to the Philippines with 50 students and a handful of chaperones in order to build homes for the Habitat for Humanity organization.  I served on the schools WASC leadership team, which attained the school's first accreditation. 

I taught for a year (2001-2002) in an alternative (TRAEP - Tidewater Regional Alternative Education Program) education program in Norfolk, Virginia.  Working with "at-risk," socio-economic disadvantaged, intercity youth is not the best way for everyone to break into the field of education, but I was interested in working with the population and the experience, especially in regards to classroom management, was invaluable.   I taught mixed grade (6-8) social studies and English. 

I taught for a year (2000-2001) in the Virginia Beach public school system, half a year as an eight grade civics teacher and half a year as a high school social studies teacher (World History & Psychology). 

        During this time I bought my first ocean kayak and began fishing from it in and around Rudee Inlet, Virginia Beach.

I earned my secondary social studies teaching license from Old Dominion University in 2001 through the Military Career Transition Program, while living in Virginia Beach.   During this time I did substitution work for the Virginia Beach public school system. 

I could usually be found on the weekends either on my mountain bike or, more likely, in my ocean kayak from which I fished in and around Rudee Inlet; otherwise, I was bowling at Pinboys, revisiting Ocean Eddies, or going to the beach. 

I lived and taught English as a Second Language in Tokyo, Japan from 1993 to 1998.

While in Japan I learned to actually like raw fish (sushi and sashimi) and studied Japanese and Judo at the Kodokan.  I fell in love with teaching due to my experiences working as an English Instructor for Tokyo's Nerima-ku public middle schools and at English Language Institutes in and around Tokyo.  I was also invited as a guest lecturer and assisted in teaching a comparative management course at Tokyo Kaizai University.  It was my experiences teaching in Japan that inspired me to dedicate myself to teaching and working with and for young students.   I also fell in love with Japanese culture, and Japan, especially Tokyo, where I had lots of Japanese friends and too many great experiences to recount here.  Although crowded and expensive, I would recommend Tokyo to anyone. 

I received my MA, International Relations from Old Dominion University in 1993, while living in Virginia Beach and Norfolk.

In addition to two years as a graduate assistant, I helped institute the International Court of Justice component of the university's well-known Model United Nations program for high school students.  When not working toward my degree or waiting tables for spending money, I could be found, spending weekends at Ocean Eddies on the 15th street pier, playing soccer with the Virginia Beach "Over 30s" league, fishing, and going to the beach.

I served five years as an active duty Marine Corps officer.  Originally, I was stationed in Quantico, Virginia where I attended The Basic School for general officers followed by advanced infantry officer school; then Camp Lejuene, North Carolina as an infantry officer in the US Marines.

During my stint with the Marines I served as a rifle platoon commander, anti-armor platoon commander, battalion adjutant, and 24th MEU Special Intelligence Officer.  I completed two six-month Mediterranean and on six-month East-Asian deployments.  I participated in actions involving Libya in 1986 for which I received the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and therefore status as a "veteran."  My experiences do not compare to the sacrifices today's military personnel make in Iraq and Afghanistan and my heart goes out to them and their families. 

My travel experiences were extensive and the places, people, and things I got to know while abroad have had a serious influence on my outlook of life and understanding of the world. 

I graduated from West Virginia University, with a BS degree in 1984, where my activities included playing trumpet in the marching (the "Pride of West Virginia") and pep bands, and intramural sports, not to mention those things that young college males did at large, universities at the beginning of the 1980s. 

I spent two of my summers surviving the Platoon Leaders' Course (a version of Officer Candidate School) at Quantico, Virginia with the US Marines and my other summers working for spending money or going to the beach.

I graduated from Shore Regional High School (class of 1979), where my activities included soccer, field and track, band, chorus, and theater.

Other activities included part-time jobs and sneaking to the beach where I could often be found fishing, spear-fishing, or hanging out with my friends.

I completed elementary and middle school at Frank Antonides, where my activities included soccer, field and track, and band.

Other activities included Boy Scouts, fishing in Franklin lake, and sneaking to the beach with my friends..

I attended Wall Street Elementary (K-3) School; it no longer exists!

I was schooled in West Long Branch's public school system.

I was born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey on April 16th, 1960 and grew up on Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, New Jersey, USA.