Noyce Scholar Profile
Georgia Karns
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Biology, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Current academic or teaching status:
M.S. Biology
School and school district:
Meadowbrook High School, Chesterfield County, VA
Background:
I received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Arkansas in 2002. I had my daughter, and worked part time in an entomology lab. After starting an M.S. in Environmental Science at Indiana University, I returned home to my family, then moved to Richmond. I worked with children with autism before returning to work for a M.S. in Biology at Virginia Commonwealth (VCU). I completed the M.S. in the summer of 2009, then returned to VCU to begin a M.T. in Secondary Biology.
Why do you want to teach:
I am enthusiastic about biology; the subject has so much relevance and importance in our lives. I think every student deserves well-qualified enthusiastic teachers, especially in the sciences. I can think of nothing more important to do with my life than to teach in public schools.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
Recently, when I was explaining to students about how our understanding of the dangers of saturated and trans fats has changed as more research has been done, one of the students said “Why can’t they just figure out everything at once?” It made me laugh, but it also gave us an opportunity to discuss the process of science and how nothing is set in stone, our ideas are always changing with new information.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has provided me with a network of people working toward similar goals. I am glad I have other progressive science teachers to share this experience with, hopefully even after we are in the field teaching.
