Hello, all! My name is Mr. Groves and I teach 8th grade social studies here at Swift Creek Middle! This will be my first year here and 8th year in education. I taught social studies in Lenoir County (off Highway 70 on the way to the beach) for five years and Lee County for two. One year I was actually voted Teacher of the Year! I love blending history and technology. 

Before I entered education, I worked in television news at WCTI-TV (New Bern/Greenville) as a photojournalist. I covered many social studies-related events, including trials, major government meetings, and notable events like the uncovering of an anchor from Blackbeard's ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, Hurricane Irene, and a presidential visit at Cherry Point Air Base in Havelock.  

I graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Go Cougars!) with a degree in Mass Communications and earned my teaching license in Middle Grades Education from East Carolina University (GO PIRATES!!!!)

Along with using online programs like Google Classroom to help enrich my lessons, I create videos for YouTube that help connect main ideas and historic concepts. Check them out here! 

I'm happily married to Mrs. (Christy) Groves, who is also a teacher in Johnston County. She teaches first grade at Powhatan Elementary. You could say that education runs in the family! 

When I'm not teaching or making videos, I like playing golf (regular golf, frisbee golf, etc.), visiting historic sites, following the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues (I lived in the St. Louis area for a while before moving to North Carolina), along with the Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, and Carolina Hurricanes.