As an educator, we have an immense social responsibility to provide an educational experience that allows for students to grow academically and personally. We are more than our subjects and the hope is that we are able to bring about growth in students more holistically, rather than just in our fields.”

Jim’s Story

Teaching Discipline

Chemistry

Why Chemistry

“My background in chemistry through graduate school and research gives me confidence in being able to meet students where they are in their understanding of abstract concepts. Because of my research background in organic chemistry, I am grateful for the opportunity to provide students educational opportunities in the science classrooms to students in a manner that better reflects how science is done outside of the classroom. This shaping of their budding formal epistemologies and matching that with their developing practical epistemologies is one of the things about which I’m really passionate.”

Professional Experience

Jim worked in the biotech industry as a research associate for Astute Medical for one year. In this role, he assisted in clinical trials of in vitro diagnostic devices to support product development, and optimized and assessed the potential of different antibodies for new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

He worked at local test preparation companies, Elite Education and Hamilton College Consulting, as a tutor/teacher before pursuing his second graduate degree.

Jim began teaching at Bonsall High School during the 2018–2019 school year.

Hobbies

Jim enjoys playing golf, which he has been playing since he was a child, and enjoys showing others how to play. He also loves eating/cooking with friends and playing basketball/flag football with his church.

Academic Background

  • University of California, Berkeley (Master of Arts in Teacher Education)
  • University of California, San Diego (Master of Science in Chemistry)
  • University of California, San Diego (Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry/Chemistry)