Contact Information

Drop me a line

I prefer you email one of the addresses above, but I know many students do not have email.  Guess what, you can still drop me a line by writing to me below.  Keep in mind that I will not be able to write you back unless you give me an email address, IM screen name, phone number or some other way to contact you. 

For those of you that are interested, here is a little bit of background on Mr. Vasicek.

Family

I was born and raised in Swartz Creek, Michigan.  This is a town not to far from Flint (about 1 hour straight up I-75).  I have a younger brother and younger sister that raise their families in the Detroit suburb area.     

Education

I went to Swartz Creek High School where I was the member of several bands and on the National Honor Society.  I played trumpet and baritone.  After high school I began my fun-filled burger flipping career at McDonald's in my hometown to help pay some college expenses.  I went to the Flint campus of the University of Michigan.  There I received my Bachelor's degree in medical technology and biology.  My internship took me to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.  After 5+ years in the medical profession, I discovered my passion for teaching.  Off to Oakland University I went to obtain my teacher certification.  I recently finished up my Master's degree through Marygrove College. 

Careers

I have had jobs that allowed me to work with the very young, very old, very sick, very healthy and everywhere in between.  Each job has taught me very valuable lessons that I hope to pass on to the students I teach.

One of my hardest jobs was working in a nursing home and taking care of all of the needs of the elderly.  For the record, I would much rather work with kids!

One of the most important jobs I had was working in the Transfusion Medicine Department at Beaumont Hospital.  Here I routinely had to quickly find blood (or other body parts) that matched a patient in need.   Some days I felt like I was working on the show "ER." 

Perhaps the most interesting job was the Fertility Center at Beaumont Hospital.  Here I helped couples have children by using in vitro fertilization (IVF) -- yes, that is the test tube baby thing.  I will spare you the details unless you ask.  It was fascinating stuff, but the kids were just too small.

Bar none, the most exciting, energizing, fun-filled and difficult job that I have had is teaching.   Yes, it is longer hours and half the pay than a career in medicine, but so worth it!  I have taught students from first to eighth grade, and sometimes two grade levels at the same time.  This is my 6th year teaching 4th grade

I also teach counselors and teachers at Oakland University. 

Staff Training Director for Special Days Camps.

Special Days Camps: For kids with cancer

This, my friends, is the reason I became a teacher.  A non-profit organization that I donate hundreds of hours to each year.  Having worked with kindergartners to high schoolers, I find this camp to be a magical place for all kids with cancer and their siblings. It is my inspiration for my classroom.   If kids love Special Days Summer Camp...why not make my classroom just like it and then add the curriculum?  So far, it has worked amazingly.     www.specialdays.org     

Fun and Favorites and Goals

I like to travel, visit with friends, talk with teachers, and go to seminars on the brain.   I like to downhill ski, bowl, air hockey, swim, kayak, canoe, and play tennis, Texas Hold 'em, euchre, ladder golf, bocce ball, Whirley Ball, and jogging.   I collect Hard Rock Cafe pins and have over 100 (see the coatroom wall). I run. I camp. I read. I play cards. I organize. I watch the Tigers / Red Wings, and laugh at comedy clubs. 

I eat lots of Blondies from Applebee's and fries from T.G.I. Fridays.  My favorite restaurant is Boston's on Hayes/M-59.  The Greek Salad at the greek place on Garfield is the best. My favorite burger comes from the Red Coat Tavern on Woodward Avenue.  I wish the following were considered vegetables:  chocolate, pickled bologna, feta cheese, salt, vinegar, bbq sauce, Life cereal, onions and peanuts.  I love to make and edit movies.  New York City is my favorite place to visit.

I watch The Apprentice, The Deadliest Catch, The Mole, Desperate Housewives, and America's Funniest Home Videos.    I love gadgets and music and upbeat theatre productions (The Lion King and Wicked are top notch!).  Someday I hope to meet to Bill Cosby, Ellen Degeneres, Oprah Winfrey and Ron Clark (Disney's teacher of the year).    All are my role models for  integrity, courage, perseverance, and making a difference.  I would love to attend the future Olympic games or better yet, carry the Olympic torch.  But, if I could only do one thing for the rest of my life it would be making a difference in the lives of children.

Things/People that are 212 Degrees

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson 

Integrity is everything. ~Mr. Vasicek

Hear everyone.  Listen to those you respect most.  ~Mr. Vasicek

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.  ~Stephen Covey

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.  ~John Quincy Adams

No one rises to low expectations. ~Les Brown 

Sometimes when you don't ask questions, it's not because you are afraid that someone will lie to your face.  It's because you're afraid they'll tell you the truth.  ~Jodi Picoult Vanishing Acts

Say it. Mean it. Do it. ~Staron

The richest person is not the one who has the most…it is the one who needs the least.  ~Unknown

You have to think anyway, so why not think big? ~Donald Trump

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.  ~Author Unknown

Responsible behavior is behavior that satisfies our needs without depriving others of meeting theirs.  ~J. Erwin

Confidence is the feeling you have before you understand the situation.  ~Unknown

We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, some are more popular than others - BUT they ALL have to learn to live in the same box!! ~Author Unknown

"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."  ~Mother Teresa

Children are like cement.  You need to teach them successful skills before they harden. ~Mr. Vasicek

Rules and responsibility without consequences are merely suggestions.  Response to Free Press Article "Helicopter Parenting's Comeback"