Eric Wilson

Background

About Eric Wilson

Through out my life and career two interest have always featured prominently: technology and helping others. Technology has been an interest of mine ever since cutting my teeth on a Commodore 64. While the scientific uses of computers were obvious, I found computers as a tool of expression to be much more fascinating. When I was twelve I made a retelling of the "Night Before Christmas" using Sprites, fancy 8-bit music and some BASIC code. While now it could be created in seconds using any number of platforms, I enjoyed the challenge and the craft of trying to create magic from code. In college I discovered the Macintosh platform where I clicked on mysterious blue "N" in the corner of the screen opening something called "Netscape." I knew at that moment it was something I wanted to learn. I spent many hours in the computer lab reading guides on HTML 1.x crafting a webpage in WebWeaver. By the time I graduated, I had an online teaching portfolio complete with links, graphics, mouseovers, and image maps. I suppose on some level I should've pursued a career exclusively in technology, but I really felt called to the teaching profession. As a teacher I've always been looking for the next new idea to try. I will never forget in 2001 when I discovered an app called StarQuiz that allowed me to create quizzes for students to take online and it would grade and record the scores in my gradebook. It was then I knew the real magic was about to begin. That same year I traveled to Yellowstone with a group of middle school students and together shared videos and photos of our adventures with the rest of the school using my MacBook, a very slow dial-up connection, and a Tripod webpage. In an era before social media and smart phones we were pushing the limits of tech. Outside of technology my interest in helping is something that has been a part of me from a young age. From rescuing injured animals, to getting my parents to recycle before it was cool, I’ve always tried to live a life that has a net-positive impact on the world. I’ve been involved Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers, numerous animal rescues, and of course my work as a teacher and as founder of Dreamers and Doers. I enjoy the risk and challenge of trying something new. In fact throughout my career you’ll see a history of trying new things and adventures; solving problems, learning new skills and helping those around me. No matter what position or mission I always tried to see challenges through and to leave things in a state of being better than when I arrived.