Hello Students!
I am a second career teacher, this means I did something else before I became a teacher. So what did I do before? I ran residential camping programs and weekend retreats. So, basically, a principal at a camp. Why did I decide to hang up my hiking boots and trees for heels and computers? I had kids. It was really annoying to spend my summers with 300-500 kids and not see my own kids for 3 months. That's basically it. That, and I started to feel the cold more and more. Got tired of trying to keep my toes warm. :-)
I got my undergraduate degree from Carroll College in WI. I studied biology and English. I went on to get a MsEd in Outdoor Education from Northern Illinois University. After I left outdoor education, I earned my teaching certification from Rockford University. I am certified to teach: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, English, and English Second Language. I think I might have over done a few things at some point in time. Just maybe.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I have an interesting sense of humor. I sort of have to have one, I have to deal with a husband who teaches middle school history. Some times I am not sure who is more immature, my husband or my teenage son. I have two kids. My son is in high school and he plays hockey and computer games. My daughter is in college and she is studying chemisty and plays D&D. One of my kids is a dork and the other is a nerd. The apples really didn't fall far from the tree. In addition to the kids and husband, I share the house with a dog, she's a tiny little corgi/beagle old girl. I also live out in the country and have chickens, sheep, and barn cats. My husband pried my out of living in the suburbs by promising my I could have cats if we moved some place with a barn, he's really allergic to cats. I found out that I am really allergic to corn pollen. Guess what grows all around my house. Yup, corn. So most of my sniffles, coughs, and sneezes are due to allergies to corn pollen, mold spores, and dust mites.
I have a lot of interests. But mostly: sewing, reading, science stuff, canoeing, hiking, and sleeping. Environmental justice and scientific literacy are two of the big ideas that I feel are important. I don't feel that my students need to agree with me on policies when it comes to environmental issues, but I do feel that my students should be able to support their beliefs with real, scientific, evidence. "Because my mom said so" is not valid evidence.
I am glad you all are my students. I hope you will be glad you had me as a teacher, even if it is for a short time.