We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andy Strano. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andy below.

Andy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

It was my last year teaching in elementary school in Las Vegas. I was brand new to the staff and had just had the twins. This administrator knew that I only had a year left before moving to the mid-west but something told him to give me a shot. I spent one year not only teaching Art in his school, but watching him as a leader administrator, principal. He trusted me as the art teacher to not only run the classroom as I felt fit, but also let me put on an event, that in my opinion greatly impacted the students. I also watched how he interacted with unruly students. He taught me, without telling me, how to run a school. His interaction with his staff was in the form of a leader, supporter, mentor, as well as what I came to see as a true principal’s calling. Upon leaving, he showed great care to me that left an impact on me forever as a teacher. Though it was only a year’s experience with this particular boss, he made more of an impact on me in my 21 years than any other principal I called boss.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am firstly a single father of three young boys. I am a creative soul teaching art to mostly ages 5 – 11, with some years experience at the high school levels. I’ve lived in all three parts of the USA, growing up and going to college in the east coast, starting my teaching career on the west coast, and now presently living and working in education in the mid-west. I’ve always had a knack for Art and the creative process. I’ve inspired many not only through teaching, but also through my hobbies. I own and maintain a Delorean Time Machine rental business as well as own a replica I help build. I also run a little free library in the form of the Doctor Who TARDIS that has climbed to become Minnesota’s #1 Geocaching spot. The friendships I’ve built over the years are important to me in that I enjoy hosting an annual “Friendsgiving” where I open my home up to friends to share a meal and a good time. I am a man of faith, pursing a Godly understanding of the Great Beyond and everything “blurry” along the way. When it comes to “my art,” I believe everyone is creative in their own doing. It is an Art Specialist’s job to help individuals on that path. I’ve come to where I am today because of many factors, including my love of science fiction (ie. Star Trek), my family values, my faith, and my understanding of how finite our lives are. Art is one way of expressing myself and giving myself back to the world to which I live.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My three boys, ages 11, 9 & 9 are very busy boys, as many are. I am a loving father, but I also run my house much like I run my classroom. I am trying to raise children that are respectful and well behaved both in and out of the classroom. On countless occasions, I’ve taken my boys out in public and gotten comments later at how well behaved they really are. Though divorced people are alone in the way they run their houses, it is up to the adult as to how to run it. It is very hard raising kids and more often than not, I’ve broken down in feelings of defeat. However, I feel it is my faith as well as my determination and sense of duty to keep going. When you do not have your “other half” in the house, you must play both parts of a parental role and that can be very difficult. Working a full time job, trying to run a side business, as well as keeping up on the bills, while also trying to give your kids the best of you, is tough, but not impossible. Many single parents do it, and it is those parents that society deserves the utmost applause. I’m resilient because I must be. I go because it is my job. I am a teacher and have realized I am not in the “money” business but am in the “people” business. Those people are not only my own kids, but the kids I see on a weekly basis. It is very draining, but it must be worth it in the end.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My social media presence is hit and miss honestly. I’ve been in the game since the beginning of social media. I’ve learned that there will ALWAYS be someone better at it, but the thing that took me a very long time to learn is, NOT to compare myself to those others. Social media today is so consumer based. What can someone get from me? I’ve learned to shift gears and put things out there that are of interest to me. There are pockets of society where people of similar nature seem to shift towards each other. I’ve had to let some friendships go simply because I wanted more people in my life that were there to help, not necessarily hurt. Gaining a social media presence isn’t easy, but through time and honesty, anyone can build an audience. In a world that is blurring the lines between real and fake (or AI for that matter), I believe people want authentic content. Just be yourself and let the world decide.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rentDelorean.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rentdelorean/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stranovegas
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rentdelorean1985
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/LakevilleMNLittleFreeLibraryTARDIS