Although Mr. Michael Blum has been teaching Spanish at Armijo for 11 years, he held many jobs before he became an Armijo Indian. “I have washed dishes, shoveled snow, babysat, translated immigrant adoption papers, and did fundraising for Democrats,” he said. He also spent ten years involved in radio broadcasting.

When he looked back on his jobs, he considered how they contributed to his present career. “My routine for ideal jobs was: first, did my work improve the surroundings of all? And, second, did it enhance my talents? Teaching fulfills those criteria.” This explains why he has spent so many years in the career.

He would encourage students who are interested in teaching to pursue the career. “Be sure to know yourself, and your talents,” he said. “Make sure your intrinsic values are met with teaching.  Be prepared to work hard, sleep little, and enjoy improving the outlook of your students’ lives.”

Mr. Blum knows a lot about teaching because he knows a lot about education, through personal experience. “Perkiomen Prep in Pennsylvania was my last high school,” he said. That was followed by college at Edinboro University, University of South Alabama, Brandman University, and The University of Salamanca.

If he could make one change to Armijo, it would be in the staffing. He said that it would be great if there could be additional monitors so that there would be fewer students sneaking around. He also believes that the increased security of additional monitors would create “a growing positive vibe from students.”