(Photo Credit, The Ball Studio)
Get to know one of this year’s Golden Apple recipients!
What is your job title and where do you work? I am a biology and anatomy & physiology teacher at Crescent Valley High School.
Tell us a little about your family – if you’d like to! My husband and I met at CV, he was also a teacher. I was able to have our daughter as a student during her freshman and senior years in high school. She graduated from CV last year and now attends school in Colorado. Two cats and one dog hold down the homefront.
What is one fun fact about you? One of the first classes I taught in the public schools was Drama. I had absolutely no experience in theater. This was way back in the 90s when you had to be prepared to teach anything!
What do you do in your spare time? Hiking and kayaking in the summer, skiing during winter break, napping, and soaking pools during the school year.
Tell us about your educational background. Bachelors in Biology and Zoology, Masters in Science Education, and 27 glorious years of professional development.
Was becoming a teacher something you always planned on doing? As a high school student, I tutored small groups of elementary kids. This experience made me think that I definitely did not want to become a teacher. Then as an undergraduate in college, I had the opportunity to teach chemistry labs. The job really clicked for me and I have been enjoying teaching in one form or another ever since.
What does being a good teacher mean to you? Flexibility! Being able to throw the well laid plans out the window if they are not working and try something completely new. This means reading the classroom and finding out what works for each kid. A good teacher should connect with students in a way that is sincere and respectful of who they are as individuals.
What is something you love about your job? There is a new challenge every day. Since I make the plans, if things don’t go well it is ultimately on me. The flip side is, if students really connect with and grow from what we are doing in class, it makes me feel fantastic about being a part of that growth.
What is one student interaction that has always stood out to you? No one single experience jumps out, but it is always rewarding to hear back from former students about experiences they had in CV science classes that inspired them to make a career choice in science or education.
What is something that you have implemented in the school since working there? I have been able to be an advisor to science clubs like Science Olympiad and Advocates for Women in Science. It is a pleasure to work with students who want to extend their experiences in science beyond what they do in school.
What did it feel like being surprised with the Golden Apple Award? Were you expecting it? Receiving the award was humbling…and a little embarrassing. I was not expecting it in a million years. So many of my colleagues have my admiration and respect for being amazing teachers and incredible individuals. To be nominated from such a group is a real honor.