Created: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 12:00 a.m. CDT
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Know Your Neighbor: Darren Erickson, Principal

Darren is in his first year as principal at Tampico Elementary School. He lives in Davenport, Iowa, with his wife, Marcia, and their sons, Eli, 4, and Griffen, 1. I graduated from: Prophetstown High School in 1989. My first job: Dishwasher at the Forest Inn in Morrison. If I could try another profession, I would be a: Chef. I love to cook, and I wouldn't have to clean up after myself. My philosophy to live by: It is usually easier to get forgiveness than permission. If I could change one thing about life: Early morning would mean 10 a.m. My biggest phobia: Having to put something together without my wife there to figure out the directions for me. The first car I ever owned was: An early '80s blue Oldsmobile Cutlass with a bad muffler and even worse gas mileage. I am: Quirky, creative, supportive and friendly. My guilty pleasure: Iced coffee. Something people don't know about me: I'm actually Spider-Man. If I could visit any place in the world, it would be: St. Andrew's Golf Course in Scotland, so I could go out there for 18 holes and probably put up the worst score in the 100-plus year history of the course. One thing I learned doing my job: Kids are a lot more intelligent and perceptive than most people think. Do you know someone who ought to be featured in Know Your Neighbors? Call Phil Hartman at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 524, or write to phartman@svnmail.com.

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