Ted is a retired public high school science teacher. He taught 18 years in public schools in Massachusetts. His passion is in teaching Environmental Science, to anyone who will listen, both in the classroom and outside. Ted was a science teacher who also taught biology, physical science, engineering, and oceanography. Prior to teaching Mr. Fiust was in multiple careers in both the natural world and high tech.
He was formally educated as a limnologist (a freshwater oceanographer), garnering a Master of Science in 1980. He started his career in computer and software marketing and sales, rather than count fish in the hold of a ship on the Great Lakes, which is what an aquatic biologist without a doctorate could expect to start doing with a master’s degree around 1980.
He has held various high-tech positions, including co-founding of an artificial intelligence company, selling high end graphics systems for Silicon Graphics and McDonnell Douglas, resulting in installing replacements for all the FAA screens controlling the skies above the USA, and large CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing) systems used to build anything from ocean-going ship propellers to fighter aircraft.
Ted utilized his aquatic biology and engineering background to sell, design, build, and operate greenhouse-based wastewater treatment systems. Installing one in one of the wealthiest towns in Massachusetts, Ted prided himself on the fact that the effluent water quality was cleaner than the groundwater flowing beneath the greenhouse, which ended up in the Cambridge Reservoir. Ted was accepted into the MINT (Massachusetts Institute for New Teachers) program circa 2000.
After six weeks of intensive training, Ted was granted a provisional license to teach sixth to eighth grade science as well as high school biology in Massachusetts public schools. His first job was teaching 8th grade science. About six days into his first professional full time teaching career, September 11, 2001 occurred.
As that event changed the world, Ted resolved to change his world by teaching about a hundred students for 180 days a year for the next 18 years. The stories he accumulated and experienced first-hand, led to this book. It is hoped that in reading this book, Raising Turkeys, you enjoy a tongue in cheek glimpse of what happens behind the closed doors of a classroom in a public school somewhere in Massachusetts.
