Jennifer Newton: Scientist-High School Teacher
Jennifer Newton loves science, particularly earth and atmospheric science. She loves teaching, too. Jennifer’s love of science was planted in her by her teachers at Lakeside High School, in DeKalb County, Georgia. In particular, she credits, Mary Bergh, her high school earth science and my chemistry teacher, who, she says, “is the reason why I am teaching today. She made learning fun.”
After graduating from Lakeside High School, Jennifer began her undergraduate studies and later, Master's Degree work at Tech, majoring in earth and atmospheric science, not an easy major. At Georgia Tech, her professors continued to nurture her interest in science and modeled good teaching methods; and Jennifer says she feels a sense of accomplishment in earning her degrees there, “I loved Tech. I had an amazing biology teacher, Dr. Maxwell.”
After completing her Masters degree, she knew that she wanted to become a teacher, and in this case, a teacher of high school science. The first step was to obtain a teaching certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Jennifer then enrolled in the TEEMS Science program at Georgia State University in order to complete the requirements for certification. Because of the TEEMS program’s flexibility, Jennifer was able to attend classes at night and work during the day. Again, Jennifer had a great experience at another University System of Georgia institution—Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. Her GSU professors, both in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education, were very helpful and encouraging. Professors observed her teaching and provided valuable feedback. Additionally, faculty members, who were originally her teachers, extended their roles to mentor Jennifer after she finished her education.
Jennifer, who is in her second year of teaching science at Parkview High School, describes the first year of teaching as “tiring yet rewarding.” She says she felt especially rewarded when many her students wrote notes in her yearbook telling her how “She made a hard subject, fun to learn.”
Jennifer plans to continue teaching high school science for a long time. Who knows how many teacher-scientists she will foster?