Darren Sinko is an experienced science teacher who spent more than 25 years teaching middle school students in Oregon. Darren Sinko dedicated the majority of his career to North Bend Middle School, where he worked as a full-time licensed science teacher from 2000 to 2024. He taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grade science, preparing lessons, grading student work, and maintaining classroom discipline. He further guided students through laboratory work and projects, nurturing their curiosity and desire to learn through practical demonstrations.
Earlier in his career, Darren Sinko served as a long-term substitute science teacher for eighth and ninth grade students at Myrtle Point High School. To prepare him for his career as a teacher, he earned a BS in history from Oregon State University in 1991, followed by a BS in secondary education with endorsements in science and social studies from Western Oregon State University in 1996.
Before entering the teaching profession, Mr. Sinko held a variety of hands-on jobs that shaped his practical skills. He worked at Kodiak Salmon Packers in Alaska and did large plumbing and field drainage jobs with Roto-Rooter in Salem. Having grown up on a dairy farm, Darren Sinko has experience feeding and milking cattle, building fences, erecting pole buildings, and repairing buildings.
In addition to teaching, Darren Sinko maintains interests in growing dahlias, playing electric guitar, and salmon fishing. He presented at The River Mile Network 2023 Crawfish Conference on how to make a $4 crawfish trap.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts at 6:00 am. After getting a cup of coffee, l check my email and see if l have any new purchase orders from scientific supply companies for rocks, minerals, and owl pellets. After accomplishing this task, l usually go out to my garage and box up owl pellets, rocks, and minerals for shipment. If l have an order that needs to be shipped, l will drive the package to a shipment center 14 miles away in Bandon, Oregon. After l accomplish this task, l usually take some time to make inquiry emails and phone calls to potential clients to sell my science products to. My motto since going into business for myself is to do something every day that can make me some money. This is how l make every day productive.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I usually do some research to see if my ideas are feasible. If this is the case, then l take some time to write up a written plan with a couple clear goals outlined. Then l check into the costs of materials to put my plans and ideas into motion.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I like that since COVID, there has been a push in education to move away from public schools that in most states have been failing miserably to alternative schools like charter schools, private, Christian, homeschooling, and online schools. Parents and kids deserve to have as many choices as possible.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Getting up early. My mind is freshest in the morning after a good night’s sleep. I do my best writing and creative thinking in the morning.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t go to a traditional four-year college. Go into the trades because they suit your creativeness and mechanical abilities much better. In the trades, you will earn a better living and be more respected because you will be really good at one thing.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I believe in Bigfoot with all my heart. I keep hoping that proof of its existence will come to light some time before l die.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I regularly lift weights at a gym about 12 miles from my house four days a week. I like having strong arms and chest at age 56. Others in my circle don’t do any exercise, and they look old beyond their years. Exercise will add years to everyone’s life.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I go and work in my dahlia garden. I have 163 plants. Weeding, staking, and deadheading my dahlias takes my mind off things that are troubling me.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Having a good attitude. When l call companies as potential clients to sell my scientific supplies to, l don’t get down on myself if they aren’t interested. Instead, l remain positive and keep working my way down my contact list until l make a sale. I tell myself that the worst thing that can happen is they say no.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
The one failure that stands out is staying in education longer than l should have. The job doesn’t pay well, it’s super stressful, and you get treated poorly. I needed to believe in myself more and have the courage to move on much earlier to give myself better financial security.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use QuickBooks to keep track of everything in my business. It’s easy and user-friendly in my opinion.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I spent around $100 to go to an Oregon State University basketball game with my daughter about a month ago. Before this, my relationship with her had been strained, and this outing helped patch things up.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
My favorite book of all time is “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradbury. I like this because its overall message is that people are only in it for themselves. Don’t be too trusting because you will get taken advantage of.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The “Yellowstone” series by Taylor Sheridan. I enjoyed it because l could relate to the Kaycee character. He and l shared the same problem of having an overbearing father that was always disappointed in everything we did regardless of how hard we tried.
Key learnings
- Work should be something you’re passionate about—if not, try something else.
- Wake up every day with a good attitude.
- Exercise improves longevity.
- If you value a relationship and there is a problem, try to repair it as soon as possible.