Shawn Blackburn began teaching where he grew up in Casa Grande, AZ after graduating from Northern Arizona University in 1987. After a career change into Parks and Recreation in 1988, he again entered back into teaching in 2023. Mr. Blackburn has a Masters Degree in Secondary Education, with an emphasis in Environmental Education and has attended many institutions of higher learning, including Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, Eastern Arizona College and Central Arizona College. He is married to Louanna Blackburn and they have two children.