Jessica (Tomlin) Carpenter, a member of the Class of 2015 with a degree in Biology, received her M.Ed. in Secondary Science Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College in 2017. She is employed by Fairfax County Schools, Fairfax, VA, as a Biology (Life Science) Teacher and Curriculum Team Leader.
What role did her years at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ College play in equipping her to teach biology to high school students? “During my time at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, I worked as a biology and chemistry tutor for high school students and volunteered at the Oakes Museum. I was connected to these programs through professors at the college. It was through these positions, along with opportunities as a TA [Teaching Assistant] and an SI [Supplemental Instruction] leader in the biology & chemistry departments, that I realized my passion for science education. My coursework at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ prepared me with the content knowledge that I needed to feel comfortable in the classroom……but it was the hands-on style of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ's biology courses and the dedication of my professors that helped me discover why I wanted to become a teacher and the type of teacher I wanted to be.”
Jessica is already seeing God at work in her classroom. “At various times, I have had students tell me that my class is the reason they decided to apply to our county's specialized science school or that they want to become a doctor when they're older, that they didn't know school could be fun, that they feel more confident in themselves... God is constantly showing me just how much of a difference I am making. God works through me as I try to make my classroom a safe environment for my students, as I meet with parents to discuss accommodations that could help students be more successful, even as I help my colleagues design more engaging lessons. God has put me in roles that I sometimes see as being more than I can handle……but I have found these roles to challenge me in a positive way and have helped me to make my instruction more meaningful for the students. ”