By Katie McGregor
Staff Writer
Mira Costa is home to many interesting teachers, but few of them can say they’ve been able to study climate change in the Arctic.
Mira Costa’s newest AP Biology teacher, Jessica Whitlock, can claim just that, however. Whitlock replaced AP Biology teacher Catherine Barden in December when she went on maternity leave, and brings to Costa a wealth of teaching experience.
Whitlock graduated from Syracuse University in 2007 with a degree in Biology. In 2008, she applied to be a part of Teach for America, which takes highly ranked graduates and has them teach in inner city schools for two years. Whitlock taught in south Los Angeles for two years while she was also enrolled at Loyola Marymount University, getting her degree in education. Teaching started as an experiment for Whitlock, but she soon fell in love with it.
“At first I was really hesitant with having a substitute for my AP Biology class,” junior Carly McPherson said. “However, Ms. Whitlock exceeded my expectations. She is really great with making sure we understand the information and she is so friendly.”
Whitlock then joined an Earthwatch research expedition in the Arctic in 2009. Earthwatch is a non-profit organization that funds scientific research in many different fields, including ecology, wildlife conservation, marine science, and archaeology. During her time in the Arctic, Whitlock received a large variety of research experience, and studied in places as diverse as tundra and forests.
“I believe great teachers have the ability to constantly change and refine their craft, in addition to connecting with their students,” Whitlock said. “ AP Biology really pushes the student’s ability to grasp complex concepts in a small amount of time, which is a very important skill to have for students that will be going away to college soon.”
Whitlock returned to Los Angeles after her trip, and came to Costa once her time with Teach for America ended. This summer Whitlock will be teaching summer school CP Biology and she hopes she’ll be able to stay after Barden returns next year. In addition to the current curriculum in Costa’s science classes, Whitlock wishes to introduce new trips and projects to get Costa students involved and more interested in science.
“Learning does not just happen in the classroom. I would love to create opportunities for students to learn through inquiry-based activities that stimulate their passion for science,” Whitlock said. “This country definitely needs more qualified math and science minds to solve the issues of today.”
Whitlock hopes use her connections with Earthwatch to set up a student trip to study climate change and ecosystems. She’s currently considering taking students to places like the Galapagos Islands and the rain forests of South America and South Africa. Students would be able to work with world class scientists and local communities to understand cultural and natural resources.
“I’m really glad we got her as our substitute. I hope she stays here for good because she is such a great teacher,” McPherson said.
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