Welcome to social studies with Mr. Whitney.

I was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Warren Air Force Base in 1963. I then moved around the country a few times with my five brothers and sisters until we settled in Lompoc, California in 1969 where my father continued his service at Vandenberg Air Force Base. As a youth, I played many sports but settled on water polo and swimming in high school. In 1983, I moved to beautiful San Diego. I became an ocean lifeguard and worked in the La Jolla area for 13 years, and I coached water polo at Grossmont High School. I also attended college at Grossmont and San Diego State. Independence and college life didn't work together as easily as I had hoped, but after 8 years I finally received my bachelor's degree and then pursued my teaching credential.  In 1990, I began my teaching career at La Mesa Middle School. In 1996 my first daughter was born and I went to school to receive my master's degree in Educational Technology. A few years after my second daughter was born in 1998, we moved to Temecula where house prices and teaching salaries were hard to pass up. I started at James L. Day middle school in the year 2000. I remarried in 2013 to a wonderful woman and now have four children. My two oldest, who were students of mine at DMS, are independent and out in the world finding their way. I have a son who is in his third year of college and I have an 10th grader at TVHS. We love hanging out together and playing games and traveling. I love cooking with my wife and visiting our favorite wineries on the weekends. One of my long-time interests is working in the yard or garden. I also love reading/listening to books, especially biographies, and I love to learn new things 

As you know, the last several years have been full of challenges for all of us. I will approach all of this with a positive attitude and I hope that you will as well. I will encourage all of my students to be their best selves and rise up to these challenges. It is my goal that we will look back one day upon these times and be proud of the way we dealt with them. I am a big fan of the show Ted Lasso because of the positive attitude and humor that he brings to challenges. I have always tried to live that way.  BELIEVE! 

I want you to feel comfortable contacting me anytime about any issue, even if it is uncomfortable. Please be assured that I am at your service. I am working for you and your children.  

Here's to a Great Year, 

Brandon Whitney

CLASSROOM LINKS:

Link: Syllabus for 7th Grade Social Studies

Link: 7th Grade Social Studies Canvas Home Page

CANVAS OBSERVER LINKS: