DID YOU KNOW?
Tacoma’s story spans more than two centuries from the time Captain George Vancouver anchored off Tacoma’s north shore in 1792.
In 1870, Tacoma’s natural deep-water port became an attraction that the Northern Pacific Railroad couldn’t pass up, when it made Tacoma a stop on its transcontinental line.
Old Tacoma and New Tacoma merged in 1884 and incorporated as Tacoma. By 1890, the population reached 36,000 people.
Tacoma is home to the Port of Tacoma, the seventh-largest container port in the United States, and it is within 20 miles of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and 36 miles of the city of Seattle.
Brian Crawford,
Middle School/Upper School French
Brian Crawford teaches French in both the Middle and Upper Schools. Throughout his career, he has taught French to students from the sixth grade through college. He has lived and worked in France and traveled extensively throughout Western Europe. He has lost the strong Southern accent he had as a child, but he has acquired a French accent while speaking German that is so strong he has been mistaken while traveling in Germany for a Frenchman.
Crawford hopes his students remember his classes as “fun, zany, energetic and hilarious.” And he hopes that “when they have gone through my part of the curriculum, they can speak and understand French extremely well for kids of their age and feel successful communicating in a French-speaking country.” He attributes his success as a teacher to knowing how to connect with kids sincerely, share their interests, understand their struggles, and listen.
Crawford holds a bachelors degree from the University of Georgia and dual masters in French literature and modern German culture from Indiana University. He has taught at Charles Wright since 2003 and has also served as technical director for theater productions at Charles Wright, advised the debate club, coached track and cross-country, and served as hike leader for the annual eighth grade and sophomore backpacking trips.
He recently ran his first half marathon and placed third in a 5k within his age group. He has also written two novel manuscripts that he may (or may not) edit someday. He admits that his interests are often eclectic, but adds that his enthusiasm and dedication to do his best are unwavering.
Visit his home page
Crawford hopes his students remember his classes as “fun, zany, energetic and hilarious.” And he hopes that “when they have gone through my part of the curriculum, they can speak and understand French extremely well for kids of their age and feel successful communicating in a French-speaking country.” He attributes his success as a teacher to knowing how to connect with kids sincerely, share their interests, understand their struggles, and listen.
Crawford holds a bachelors degree from the University of Georgia and dual masters in French literature and modern German culture from Indiana University. He has taught at Charles Wright since 2003 and has also served as technical director for theater productions at Charles Wright, advised the debate club, coached track and cross-country, and served as hike leader for the annual eighth grade and sophomore backpacking trips.
He recently ran his first half marathon and placed third in a 5k within his age group. He has also written two novel manuscripts that he may (or may not) edit someday. He admits that his interests are often eclectic, but adds that his enthusiasm and dedication to do his best are unwavering.
Visit his home page
