Mr. Bates is excited to start his 2nd year Woodgrove High School after working his first 13 years in Illinois and West Virginia. Mr. Bates will continue teaching the Intensive Program, which was a new program to Woodgrove High School in 2019.

Mr. Bates graduated from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia in 2005 with a B.A. in General Education, and has completed graduate coursework in Special Education at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Before coming to LCPS, Mr. Bates spent seven years working in a private, residential school in DeKalb, Illinois, as well as stops at Skyline High School, Clarke County High School, and Millbrook High School before spending his last 2 years at Musselman High School in Inwood, WV.

Mr. Bates currently resides in Bunker Hill, WV with his wife, Mindy, and their cat Cheeto.