Biographic

        Thomas W. Schwarz, Jr. was born in St. Clair, Michigan in 1959. His father retired from the Air Force in Great Falls, Montana. It was here, after graduating from Great Falls High School, he entered the Naval Service in June, 1977. He met his wife to be, Vickie, while attending Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida and while stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, his two children Angela and Joshua were born. Other duty stations were: USS JOHN ADAMS (SSBN 620)(Blue), USS SEA DEVIL (SSN 664), USS ATLANTA (SSN 712), Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Florida, and Fleet Technical Support Center Atlantic, Kings Bay, Georgia. Tom's various duty assignments included: Recruit Company Commander (Boot Camp Instructor) where he trained 9 recruit companies, 7 of which earned the Commanding Officer’s Award for Excellence, Senior Instructor Evaluator, Curriculum Development, Command Qualification and Training Officer, Command Financial Counselor, and I.R.S. Volunteer Income Tax Assistant. His military awards and decorations include the Master Training Specialist designation, Silver Dolphin pin, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 Awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (5 Awards), National Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Pistol Expert Marksman Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (6 Awards), and Navy Arctic Service Ribbon.

        During his spare time he received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration though Columbia University, Columbia, Missouri and his Master of Arts in Business Administration through Brenau University, Gainesville, Georgia. He also completed a second Master of Arts in Education (Leadership) from Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. He earned his Georgia State Teaching Certification through Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Georgia and is certified in Marketing (7-12), Business (7-12), Mathematics (7-12), and Middle Grades Education (4-8) with emphasis in Math and Social Studies. After retiring from the Navy in June, 1997 he went to work at the Camden County Alternative School teaching all Math and Science subjects grades 9-12 for two years. He then transferred to Camden County High School, where both his children are graduates, and taught Algebra. The next year he transferred to the Career and Technical Education Department where he now teaches Marketing Principles, Marketing Research, International Marketing, Hospitality Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Personal Finance.

        Tom has been an elected officer of 7 different non-profit organizations. Founded and organized the Kings Bay Youth Sports Parents Organization and the Camden County High School Softball Booster Organization. He is a graduate of Richard Alexander’s Umpire School and was a certified High School Umpire in Virginia, Florida, and Georgia with 15 years experience as an independently contracted Amateur Baseball and Softball Umpire. After hanging up his umpire uniform he replaced it with a coaching uniform and spent 4 years as an assistant coach for the Camden County High School Softball Team. He has served on the Camden County Board of Education Fringe Benefits Committee and the High Schools that Work Steering Committee, striving to make improvements in Camden County High School’s Instruction, Curriculum and Student performance. He was recognized by his fellow teachers as a nominee for the Camden County High School Teacher of the Year 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and again 2006-2007.  He was also nominated for Georgia State Marketing Educator of the Year for 2006-2007 and again 2007-2008.  Tom currently sponsors DECA, "An Association of Marketing Students." where he helps his students take the theory learned in class and put it to practical use.  In 2008 Tom and the CCHS Marketing Education program received Industry Certification from the Association of Marketing Executives, Atlanta Chapter and the Georgia Department of Education.

 Educational Philosophy

        My philosophy is centered around several concepts. First, the responsibility of learning lies squarely on the shoulders of the student and nowhere else. It is the school system’s, mine and the parent’s responsibility to provide the resources and opportunities to make a student’s education possible. None of us however, can study for them, remember for them, do their work for them, or take the tests for them. Therefore, the student’s education is clearly their responsibility. Second are the three characteristics that businesses are looking for from high school and college graduates; communications skills (written, oral, numerical and technical), teamwork / people skills, and critical thinking / problem solving skills. Due to the necessity and importance of these skills every assignment I give and every grade received are designed around one or more of these skills. Twenty percent of all available jobs are no or low skill, minimum wage jobs which require very little education. The other eighty percent require some sort of post-secondary education (college or technical training) as well as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills.

            Participating in extra curricular activities and/or having a part time job is important in the growth and development of a young person in that it helps to teach the importance of critical thinking, communication, and teamwork.  Juggling time between school, homework, extra curricular activities, and job also forces students to develop time management and problem solving skills.  However, we as teachers and parents, need to maintain cognizance of how the time is spent outside school hours.  The student's number one priority MUST be to satisfactorily complete school and receive their diploma.  Going to school, 7:30 - 3:30, is a full time job.  Studies show that the average student who spends 1 - 20 hours a week in extra curricular activities or a part time job will experience a 1% - 5% decrease in their grades.  The same student who increases these outside school hours to 21 - 40 hours a week will experience a 10% to 15% decrease in their grades.  The same student who puts in 41+ hours a week will experience a 25% or more decrease in their grades.  If we, as teachers and parents, do not force our students to attend school; provide time to do and complete their homework; ensure they get sufficient sleep; and limit the amount of time spent in extra curricular activities and part time employment, we are doing them a disservice and injustice which they will pay for the rest of their adult lives.