My Journey

From Service to the Classroom

My journey to teaching didn’t start with textbooks or lesson plans — it started with service.

After graduating high school, I enlisted in the United States Army, where I learned discipline, responsibility, and what it means to lead by example. The military shaped my character and showed me how powerful it can be when people believe in a mission — and in each other.

Education Fueled by Curiosity

Following my military service, I pursued higher education not to check boxes, but to grow. I earned multiple degrees driven by genuine interests and a love of learning:

• B.S. in Christian Ministry

• M.A. in Bible

• M.S. in Sports Management: Sport Administration

• M.A. in World War II Studies

Each degree represents a chapter of curiosity — exploring leadership, history, and the human story.

A Chapter of Coaching, Competition, and Teamwork

My path led me into the world of athletics, where I served as an NCAA Division III football coach — and even took on the unexpected role of college mascot. Later, I coached multiple sports including basketball, baseball, volleyball, wrestling, and track & field.

Coaching taught me how to motivate, mentor, and push people to reach their potential — lessons that would later become central to my classroom philosophy.

Finding Purpose in Teaching

Today, I teach English Language Arts at both the middle and high school levels and lead student-centered courses in history and aerospace. I combine traditional instruction with project-based learning, giving students opportunities to take ownership of their learning and to express their ideas with confidence.

In 2025, I was selected to attend the NASA Summer Liftoff Institute at Johnson Space Center, which further fueled my passion for connecting students to STEM and aerospace opportunities.

More Than a Teacher

When I’m not in the classroom, you’ll find me:

• enjoying sports and rodeo culture

• cheering on the Virginia Cavaliers, Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and San Antonio Spurs

Teaching lets me bring every part of my journey together — service, coaching, leadership, and lifelong learning — with one goal:

Help students discover what they’re capable of and inspire them to chase something bigger than themselves.

Teaching Experience Highlights

Substitute Teacher

Colorado Early Colleges - Douglas County North

2025 - Present

Provide classroom instruction in the absence of the regular teacher, ensuring that learning continues in a safe, organized, and supportive environment. Follow lesson plans, maintain academic routines, and support student learning across various grade levels and subject areas.

English Language Arts Teacher Highlights

Colorado Skies Academy 2024-2025

Fort Lupton High School 2022

Elizabeth Middle School 2021 - 2022

• Designs and delivers engaging ELA instruction using both traditional teaching methods and project-based learning to build students’ reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills.

• Develops standards-aligned curriculum focused on literary analysis, research writing, and academic communication, incorporating technology and cross-curricular connections (history and aerospace) to deepen understanding.

• Differentiates instruction to support diverse learners, including advanced, emerging, and intervention-level students, ensuring equitable access to rigorous content.

• Creates a classroom culture rooted in respect, student ownership, and collaboration, empowering students to express ideas clearly and confidently.

• Utilizes formative and summative assessments to track progress, adjust instruction, and improve student learning outcomes.

Meet Mr. Kemper

Welcome! I’m Craig Kemper — an educator, coach, veteran, and lifelong learner who believes that students thrive when curiosity meets purpose.

I currently teach English Language Arts at both the middle and high school levels and also lead courses in history and aerospace. My teaching blends traditional instruction with project-based learning, giving students opportunities to explore big ideas, think critically, and take ownership of their learning. Whether I’m helping students analyze literature or guiding them through a hands-on aerospace project, my goal is always the same: create meaningful learning experiences that students will remember long after the final bell.

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