CAD teacher Craig Morrow hopes to inspire young minds through teaching

Mill Valley News: Starting off, could you tell me about your background? Where did you grow up? Where did you go to college?

Craig Morrow: I grew up in Olathe, Kansas and went to Olathe South High School, then got married and then we moved down to Texas for a few years. That’s where I got my masters. Back up to Kansas, that’s where my daughter was born. We moved back down to Texas for about 10 to 11 years. And now, back up here, where I’m obviously teaching today. In regards to college I went to K-State. I started out in architecture and then ended up with a sociology degree.

MVN: Cool. Did you have any jobs before teaching?

CM: Yes, I had a whole host of jobs. I was a mental health worker/counselor. I worked in the mental health area, I’ve worked in corrections, I’ve worked in law, things like that. But then ultimately, I landed a teaching job. Basically, they needed someone to teach social studies stuff and I decided I might as well give it a go and then I fell in love with that. That was around 2003. And then I’ve fallen in love with it ever since and I haven’t stopped. 

MVN: That’s awesome. Okay, so moving away from education and background, do you have hobbies? What kind of stuff do you like to do in your free time?

CM: I do enjoy drawing and modeling, making models and stuff like that.

MVN: That makes sense with the CAD element. What made you come to Mill Valley specifically?

CM: Well, it just happened to be that they had a drafting/architecture teacher available and my wife said, “Hey, why don’t you try for this one?” I said, “No, I don’t think I’ll get it,” and she said, “No, why don’t you try,” and I cracked: “Okay.” So I tried and it took a little while, but I landed the job. I was hoping to start in January of last year, but it wasn’t able to happen that way but I’m here.

MVN: Cool. You mentioned earlier that you’ve been teaching for a while, did you say 2003?

CM: I started in 2003. The biggest thing was that then, pretty much 2003 all the way through. I also was a college professor.

MVN: Awesome. I think we already kind of covered why you want to become a teacher, but do you want to talk about that?

CM: The biggest thing is it’s always fun to inspire young minds and just watch, especially when you get those light bulb moments when things kind of click and it’s fun. I gain energy off of that.

MVN: Yeah. Now that you’re at MVHS, what is your favorite thing or what’s one thing that you’re excited about?

CM: I enjoy the staff here. They also seem to have an energy about themselves and it’s a lot of fun to work with them.

MVN: That’s awesome. We’re gonna talk a little bit about an item. Do you have an item in your office or at your desk that’s important to you? What is that?

CM: Well, I’d say it’d be my K-State mug. Honestly, it is that because one, it’s K State, and two, my wife got that for me for one of my birthdays and so that meant a lot.

MVN: That’s fun. One fun fact about you?

CM: I do love to tell puns. I’ve got to always have a pun in line and that kind of stuff.

MVN: And last but not least, is there anything students should know about you?

CM: I try to be as light hearted as I can, but we remain focused on our goals at hand.

MVN: Awesome. Thank you so much.