Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I don’t feel like it was ever really a decision I consciously made. I was always going to be a teacher. I “played” teacher as a child, even during recess at school! Some people are meant to do certain things in life, and I was meant to teach!

What has been your most memorable moment as a teacher?

There are so many “memorable” moments that are memorable for different reasons. Some are funny, some happy, and some sad. I’ve had some of each, but one of the most memorable came long after I taught a student in 5th grade. She was an adult at that point, and contacted me to let me know how much I meant to her. As a child she just thought that I was her favorite teacher, but as an adult she learned from her parents that I helped with her getting a diagnosis for her learning disability. She wanted to let me know how well she ended up doing in school, and that she was about to graduate college. She felt that I helped make that possible, and her kind words made me cry. I am so lucky to have such an amazing job!

What is your favorite part of Future Goals and how are you using it in your classroom?

I love that the students are making the connection that science is all around us, including in ice hockey! Since this has been such a different year for all of us, I have had to use versatile resources for my STEM classes. When we found out we would be going virtual for a while starting in December, I wanted to have something that the students would be able to use on their iPads that would be not only educational, but fun! I felt that Future Goals: Science was perfect for this. Now that we are back in school for face-to-face learning, we can use some of the hands-on materials from the program. I love the versatility!

What was your student’s reaction to the program?

The students were surprised to see how much science was involved with ice hockey, and were happy to use such a fun resource!

Who is your favorite hockey player?

Claude Giroux – Not only is he the team captain, an all-star, and a natural leader, but also the fans love him!