Q: What do you enjoy about teaching at Carroll?
A: I love the growth my students show during the course of the year. I see the light turn on when they realize that science is everywhere and it is also fun. I am pleased to see my students working increasingly harder as the school year progresses. Furthermore, I enjoy the special relationships I have made with colleagues and students.
Q: You've taught at Carroll for 17 years, what do you think students remember most about your classes?
A: I saw an alumnus at Career Day recently and he said that he remembers that science was a challenging subject. It was a class that made him think and try his hardest. I think most students remember and appreciate opportunities to learn by doing, like when conducting laboratory experiments. The biology students remember the dissections and the chemistry students remember the experiments involving combustion.
Q: You champion environmental stewardship through action. What are some of the projects that you have participated in recently and how do you get students involved?
A: Most recently, my environmental students and I planted trees with Casey Trees, an organization that works to increase the tree canopy in DC. I’ve also participated in some Bridging the Watershed events hosted by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. As the moderator of the Environmental Science Club here at Carroll, I am working on finding new ways to encourage more students to become involved in future events.
Q: What has being a teacher taught you?
A: Being a teacher has taught me to be patient. Each student is an individual and it is my job to find a way to coach them up and help build their confidence so that they perform their very best. I also believe that every day is a new day, and one should not carry over something negative from a previous day. Most of all, being a teacher has taught me to always find the good in people.
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