I love the process of guiding students through learning and the satisfaction that comes with witnessing the moment(s) when students connect the dots.”

Suzanne’s Story

Teaching Discipline

Biology and Integrated Science

Why Biology

“Biology allows students to learn about themselves in a greater context. Through life science, they start to make sense of their environment and recognize their place in the world. Integrated science allows students to build connections and gives them a framework for describing natural phenomenon that incorporates different elements of science and mathematics.
Professional Experience

As an undergraduate, Suzanne worked for four years in a biological oceanography lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying harmful algal blooms and marine food webs.

After college, Suzanne worked as an Education Park Ranger for the National Park Service and a Seasonal Biological Field Technician with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She also substitute taught all grade levels in Muskegon, Michigan, and worked as an academic advisor at Goal Oriented Academics and Learning Sciences (G.O.A.L.S.) in Los Altos, California, where she developed specialized education plans for students with learning differences.

Suzanne is currently a lead teacher for Accelerating Academic Achievement for English Learners (A.A.A.E.L.) at Sonoma State University.

Hobbies

Suzanne plays the guitar and ukulele, and has also been known to spontaneously sing parodies of Disney songs in her classroom to refocus her students.

Academic Background

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (Bachelor of Science in Biology)