When asked what he likes to do in his free time Mason replied, “I like to be in the mountains. Anything outdoors: skiing, climbing, hunting, and fishing.”

Mason earned his degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

“I did not want to be a teacher growing up. I wanted to be a wildlife biologist or a musician,” said Mason.

Chugiak is definitely a one-of-a-kind school. Unlike the Anchorage high schools, Chugiak is much smaller. It has the second smallest population of students in the Anchorage School District.

“My favorite thing about Chugiak is the community feel. And I seem to relate well to my students more so than at other schools I’ve been at,” Mason said.

When asked what the best and worst parts of being a teacher are he said, “My least favorite part is grading papers and getting up at six a.m. and my favorite is being able to laugh everyday no matter what.”