I value my job as
a physics teacher tremendously. My teaching certification in physics
& math provides me with a career that offers much fulfillment! I
also paint (watercolors --see below), read , garden, write poetry, play
piano and exercise. Before children, I was an avid backpacker hiking
the Appalachian Trail. Lyme's disease led to joint problems and I struggle
with this at times. I adore the outdoors ... especially bluebirds and
hummingbirds, flowers, butterflies, and gardening! I am quite an
ice hockey fan and I cheer loudly for the Carolina Hurricanes--THE
STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS--2006! I taught the INTEL
CAMP of ENGINEERING at The Science House at NCSU for
3 summers . Another summer I taught the AG
Discovery Camp for the Science House.
For the
next school year, I shall teach 3 AP classes at Raleigh Charter High
School and I am very excited about this new teaching experience. I am
anticipating a new opportunity at a wonderful school with the freedom
to teach and think. I completed my student teaching at Enloe High
School when I was 22 (see picture below!) and other than one year of
teaching physics at Junction City High School in Kansas (Fort Riley),
I was at Enloe for most of my teaching career -- 39 of 40 years.
I am extremely proud
that I am a National Board Certified Physics Teacher and was
Enloe Science Department Chair for over 10 years and the math chair
for 6 years. I am a recently retired member of the Burroughs
Wellcome Education Foundation
Grant Advisory Board, a Presidential
Teaching Excellence Recipient, a GTE
GIFT Fellow, an SRI Fellow at UNC, A
Sigma XI Outstanding Science Teacher and a Radio Shack "Champions
of the Classroom Award" national award recipient. I am also an
invited member of the Teacher
Leaders Network. Read a review
I wrote! I am past-president of the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha
Delta Kappa Honor Education Sorority. Years ago I won THE FIRST
Walter B. Connelly Award for Outstanding Physics
Teacher in North Carolina Award given to any physics teacher.
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I thrive while teaching
teenagers, physics, lab technique and technology -- in that order!
Labs validate the experience of physics!
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I value those who ask
questions, try even under adverse circumstances, who risk failure
to learn and enjoy new, challenging ideas.
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I dislike prejudice,
closed minds, elitism, snobbery, and especially authoritarian leadership!
I am direct,
very honest, upfront and champion those who are unable to
stand up for themselves. When I was in second grade, my
teacher noticed my problem with reversing letters, numbers, words
and images and requested special help for my disability. From then
on, I wanted to become a teacher to help others as she helped me.
Dyslexia taught me the necessity of hard work and compassion
for ALL who strive to learn and who are fair in their treatment of
others.
My family is extremely
important to me! I have 2 children and I taught them both in APB and
APC Physics. My son entered Vet School at NCSU after 3 years as a biochemistry
major at NCSU. He is now a DVM completing his Ph.D.
in cell biology at The National Institute of Health in Maryland.
My daughter is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of NCSU and is a counselor
at Haven House here in Raleigh.
I so enjoyed teaching both my children APB and APC physics. See
my daughter's "Einstein
hot-air Balloon" on the "Physics of Hot-Air Balloons" page 2. My
husband of almost 40 years is a retired teacher.
On August 8, 2001, I
spoke before a Congressional Hearing in Washington, DC about the process
of becoming a National Board Certified Teacher. It was an exhilarating
experience!
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