It’s already been a month into the school year, and Mr. Pickett, now in his fourteenth year as a teacher, is fully dedicated to his role at UMA, where his impact on his students is truly life-changing.
“Every person is worth the time and effort to invest in themselves so they can progress. It’s not about how hard it is—it’s about taking small steps, one at a time, to reach where you want to be.” said Mr. Pickett.
UMA’s Mr. Pickett has a mass of exciting information about him–including some facts people may or may not know about him. Mr. Pickett is one of UMA’s best teachers and one of the most compelling staff members at UMA. His
belief in the potential of every student and his passion to help others shows his dedication.
Mr. Pickett brings an extensive amount of experience to his teaching profession. He is a versatile teacher who believes that with the right resources, students can achieve remarkable things. Time to take a deep look at what makes Mr. Pickett an inspiring force in the lives of his students.
Mr. Pickett was raised in Southern California in an area known as Pasadena. He shares, “It’s a small suburb just outside of Los Angeles, with a population of about 250,000 people.” Throughout his life, he had a variety of jobs. “I had my own company, was a broker for a corrugated box company, did outside sales, drove diesel trucks, worked in rebar construction, did retail sales, worked as a bouncer at a club—just a short list of what he’s done.”
His education journey started when he worked in juvenile probation and for Franklin Covey when he first came to Utah. He explains his role as “auditing their files to ensure compliance with special education laws and rules, and making sure the minutes were being provided as prescribed.” Mr Pickett said. Interestingly, Mr. Pickett didn’t originally have in mind the prospect of being an educator.
“I didn’t want to be a teacher initially. I wanted to own my own company and do things differently. A friend of mine, when the economy went south in the late 1990s, suggested I try teaching. At that time, I was doing powerlifting and bodybuilding, and my friend thought my size would work well in a school with potentially violent kids.” Mr Pickett said. “Despite not being a violent person, I decided to give it a try. I started off in a class where students were expelled from all other school districts. That’s how I began my journey in education, and it just progressed from there.”
Since then, Mr. Pickett has been a teacher that has worked with many exceptional students throughout his career. While Mr. Pickett does not have any control over UMA’s goals, he has set personal goals for himself.
“My personal goal is to support the students in such a way that they can achieve the maximum possible. I believe students can achieve great things if the proper supports are in place. My focus is on supporting them so they can achieve some level of success because success begets success.”
Outside of the classroom, Mr. Pickett has a variety of hobbies and interests that many people do not know about. He says, “I have a lot of hobbies. I like to set up a speaker and play music at parties or events, sometimes even doing DJ-related things. I still work out and lift weights, and I’m into painting and building miniatures, playing role-playing games, and doing art. I enjoy music, drawing, and a lot of different creative activities… I speak Spanish fluently
and do interpretations. I can also pick up languages quickly; I can read Italian, French, a little German, and Portuguese. Though I can’t speak them fluently, I can read and understand them. Cool stuff, right?”
Mr. Pickett has a wide range of interests. While he’s an avid reader, he doesn’t have a single favorite book. “I don’t have a particular favorite,” He said. “I enjoy watching movies, and if they’re based on a book, I’ll read that book. I’ve read series like The Lord of the Rings and various investment books, but no particular favorite stands out.”
When it comes to food, Mr. Pickett doesn’t discriminate. “Every food that doesn’t bite me when I bite it!” As for holidays, his opinion on them is simple. He says, “Those where I can spend time with my family. The specific holiday doesn’t matter as long as we’re together.”
However, not everything is a favorite for Mr. Pickett. He said, “A pet peeve of mine is when I don’t follow through on the things I want to do or thought I could do. Sometimes I overextend myself, which frustrates me because it means I’m not as good in the areas I want to be good in. I try not to extend myself too much, but it’s hard because I like helping people.”
Mr. Pickett has had a lot of experiences in his life that many people may not know about. He says, “I’ve climbed the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states, Mount Whitney in California, two times. I love science and have worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where I simplified scientific data into intelligible English. I’m also involved in the community, singing in choirs like the Morgan Chamber Choir and the Davis Interfaith Choir and Orchestra.”
Mr. Pickett has many great achievements in life, one of them being his family. He says, “My children are outspoken and speak their mind. Being married to my wife for almost 20 years is another great achievement. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been a time of growth and change. Other achievements include helping kids get out of gangs and helping them overcome barriers that hold them back.”
Mr Pickett has lessons and advice that he would like to share with everyone. “One lesson I’ve learned is that all people can learn and progress. Every person is worth the time and effort to invest in themselves so they can progress. Most people give up because it’s too hard or difficult, but that’s momentary. If we take small steps little by little, we’ll eventually get to where we feel we should be. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings, who you’re with, and the influences people have on you and you on them. I just try to do what I can and don’t ask from others what I ask of
myself.”
Starting the new school year, Mr. Pickett is committed to helping the students at UMA. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, “I’d like to be remembered as a good guy, a supportive person who can get things done and has the ability and skills to do it.”
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