Candidate: Tim Stuart

Albert Einstein once stated, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” I have decided to post a snapshot of my background and accomplishments over the past 42 years. One can easily see the creative pursuits, particularly those of music and theatre, that are incorporated throughout these activities. This artistic sense has contributed to my open-mindedness, approachability, and communication skills – all useful for a public servant who must make important decisions. Besides my extensive (and eclectic) teaching experience, I am also an entrepreneur, successfully running three separate businesses, all while continuing to be a full-time teacher.

I am also proud of my family. Mom and dad still live in the Knoxville area. Dad is a retired paper salesman and mom is a retired homemaker. I am married to Kim Stuart, who is among other things, the pianist at First Baptist Church of Inverness, and has also been the accompanist for both CHS and LMS over the past eight years.  Kim and I dated briefly as juniors in high school in Tennessee and re-discovered each other 27 years later. We celebrate 13 years of marriage this summer. My step-son, Kevan, lives with his family in Knoxville.  My step-daughter, Jill, is about to complete her B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education at UCF.  She and her husband, Devonte, live in Orlando.  Both Jill and my son, Phillip, attended Citrus County schools from elementary through high school, were members of the CHS marching band, and graduated in 2013 and 2005, respectively. Phil works as a Communications Officer in Citrus’ 911 Dispatch Facility.

I am not, by nature, an in-your-face type of person. I do want it known, however, that I am a thinker and a doer, an educator and an artist. And you, dear voter, would be hard-pressed to find someone more well-rounded as Tim Stuart to represent District 5 on the Citrus County School Board.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TimStuartForSchoolBoard/ 

Education

Farragut High School, Farragut, TN – Class of 1976.

• Activities Included: Concert Choir, Swing Choir, National Honor Society, Key Club.
• Attended “Washington Workshops” – a week-long intensive, up-close exploration of the US government in Washington, D.C., 1976.

Maryville College, Maryville, TN – B.A. Elementary Education, 1976-1980.

• Member of the MC Concert Choir.
• Performed in numerous productions with the MC Playhouse, including The Master Builder, Black Comedy, The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Wizard of Oz.
• Charter member of the MC Playmakers, a repertory company. Performed adapted shows and revues from mainstages to street theatre, including Story Theatre and Once Upon a Mattress.
• Constructed my first Appalachian dulcimer as part of a class.

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL – Certification in Educational Media, 2000.

•  Studies included all facets of library science and video production techniques.

Teaching Experience

Alcoa Elementary School, Alcoa, TN – 4th and 5th Grades, 1981 (Jan. - June).

• Employed as a term Social Studies teacher after student teaching and graduation.
• Directed the children’s play The Pale Pink Dragon in the spring.

Crystal River Primary School, Crystal River, FL – 4th Grade, 1981 – 1987

• Taught all subjects—Math and Language Arts classes were ability grouped.
• Founded the CRPS “Peanut Playhouse”. Directed a production each spring, cast from fourth graders and faculty, including Rumpelstiltskin, Cinderella, The Gloid, and The Case of the Missing Homework.

Crystal River Middle School, Crystal River, FL – Drama Teacher, 1987 – 1994.

• Created a middle school theatre curriculum based on creative dramatics and Theatresports.
• Introduced lighting and stage design as well as stage makeup techniques.
• Mainstage productions included The Hobbit, How to Eat Like a Child, Marmalade Gumdrops, This is a Test, and The Night of the Pterodactyl.

Rock Crusher Elementary School, Homosassa, FL – Media Specialist, 1994 – 2002.

• Coordinated collection development and organization/distribution of library materials.
• Constructed a 2-camera studio for a live Morning Show and trained fifth graders as technicians.
• Facilitated the upgrade of the circulation system to the Mac-based Winnebago program.
• Created the first website for a school in Citrus County after teaching myself HTML programming.
• Directed a production of The Hobbit, cast from fourth and fifth graders as well as faculty members.

Citrus High School, Inverness, FL – Media Specialist, 2002 – 2018.

• Assisted with collection development and organization of materials.Assisted teachers and staff with video/presentation and computer issues.
• Coordinated faculty/staff use of library facilities, offering instruction as requested.
• Created a Media Center website for information and useful links.
• Ordered the parts and constructed a 64-bit computer for video production.
• Created a curriculum for Media Research classes, adapted for Google Classroom.
• Coordinated the organization and distribution of iPads for all students atCHS.
• Served as Assistant Football Coach, 2017.

Citrus High School, Inverness, FL – 9th grade Physical Science, 2018 (Aug. – Dec.).

• Taught general science skills, Chemistry, and Physics.

Other Youth Work

Camp Deerwoode for Boys, Brevard, North Carolina, Summers, 1970-1982

• Camper, 1970-1972
• Junior Counselor, 1973-1975. Responsibilities rotated, and included operating all phases of the kitchen, mowing fields with a tractor, filling in for counselors, and participating in sports events and activities.
• Counselor, 1976-1982. Directly responsible for a cabin of 9 or 10 boys. Provided instruction for daily classes. My specialties were physical fitness and woodworking (including teaching dulcimer building). Participated in and organized sports competitions and numerous other activities.
• Added duties as Assistant Program Director, 1981-1982.

Summer Youth Camp, Citrus County Parks and Recreation, Site Supervisor - Inverness, 1983-1988.

• Organized daily activities for campers and coordinated staff assignments.
• Supervised registration and communication with parents.
• Coordinated programs with Whispering Pines personnel.

Art Center of Citrus County-Youth Theatre, February 2012.

• Provided improvisation instruction.Directed the musical, How to Eat Like a Child.

Business Ventures

Citrus Actors Theatre, Co-founder and President, 1986-1991.

• Established CAT as a non-profit community theatre.
• Produced, directed, tech-directed, and/or performed in many productions, including A Thurber Carnival, Blithe Spirit, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Come Blow Your Horn, The Odd Couple (Female Version), Vanities, Murder at the Howard Johnsons, and Grease.
• Produced most shows as dinner theatre productions at Andre’s of Citrus Hills.

Entertainment Concepts, Founder and Sole Proprietor, 1990-2004.

• Produced the first karaoke show in Citrus County -- A Citrus 95 Splash-down party in August 1990.
• Provided karaoke entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights at Crackers Bar and Grill, Crystal River.

Nature Coast Dulcimer Works, LLC -- Founder and Owner, 2016-present.

• Custom-build hand-crafted Appalachian Dulcimers for sale.
• Have built 47 instruments to date, including two original bass dulcimers.
• Member of the Guild of American Luthiers.
• Designed and maintain the website http://NatureCoastDulcimerWorks.com

Community Theatre Experience

Marion Actors Theatre, Ocala, 1981-1983.

• Performed in Grease, West Side Story, and Man of La Mancha.

Gulf Island Civic Theatre, 1983-1986.

• Directed and performed with several productions, including Any Wednesday and You Can’t Take It With You.

 Art Center Theatre of Citrus County, 2010-2014.

• Performed in Murder by Misadventure, The Psychic, Rumors, and Little Shop of Horrors.
• Directed You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Murder at the Howard Johnsons.
• Designed and operated lights for Sex, Please, We’re 60 and The Last Five Years.

Other Relevant Activities and Interests

The Prime Minister/ Dickens Pub, Crystal River. Server, 1983-1986.

Eighth Florida, Company B (Hardy’s Brigade) Civil War Reenacting Unit, 1997-present.

• Charter member of the Crystal River Nature Coast Reenactment Committee, 1997-2013.
• Webmaster of the Naturecoast Civil War Reenactment, 1997-2013.
• Have the uniform and accouterments to portray a Union soldier, when needed.

Computer user and builder. 1980-present.

• Have designed and built 5 personal desktop computers, 2004-present.
• Possess a working knowledge of computer hardware, Microsoft Office, HTML programming, Wordpress, and Apple iPads.

Stuarthous Brewery. Homebrewer, specializing in ales. 2003-present.

Nature Coast Dulcimer Players, 2014-present.

• Meets once a week at the Central Ridge Library.
• Member of the New River Strings – a subgroup of NCDP that plays out at various events.

Central Ridge Electric RC Flyers of Citrus County. Member, 2018-present.

• Member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.