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Science teacher combines fun and learning
  
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By KOSAKU NARIOKA
This week, we profile Autumn Maddox, a science teacher at Deer Park High School. The school district has recently named Maddox secondary teacher of the year.
The second clip is rotated by 90 degree.
Deer Park Broadcaster: How many students do you teach?
Maddox: Let me see. 25 times 5, so about 125 to 130 each day.
What do you teach?
I teach chemistry, pre-AP(Advanced Placement) and AP chemistry.
The district selected you as the best secondary school teacher. How do you approach children in a classroom?
I believe learning should be fun. I like to captivate the students, but there is more to it than just fun. After you can have fun learning, I think you need to teach them in ways they can understand and remember it. So I try to have fun in the classroom, but I try to make sure they’re more than prepared for college, because my class is a college preparatory class.
I feel very honored when they come back to visit me and say ‘Thank you for getting me ready. I understood. It makes sense. You wouldn’t believe how many kids didn’t know anything.’ It’s so rewarding to hear them say they were prepared for college, because they took my class. That’s what I found very rewarding, so when I teach I try to always keep that in mind, have fun but balance fun and responsibility of learning.
People around the country, the Congress and national media are saying U.S. students not doing excellent in science, math and engineering, and that we have to restore the education for the future of this country. What is your thought on science education?
Such a hard question, but it’s a good question. I do think we have responsibility as science teachers to prepare our students to think for themselves. I think many of our students, not just students, but adults were content to be told how to do something and when to do something. It’s easier just to do it than to have to think; so we are content to watch TV… I’m just not sure if we challenge ourselves even as adults. I think we have a responsibility as science teachers to inspire students to ask questions to challenge –why things work –and to try to make things better.
Do you actually see some of the students struggling with science?
First of all, I teach like the cream of the crop. I have amazing students, so most of my students are pretty strong but not always. Do I see students struggling, hands down yes. There are always kids who struggle in something. The level of struggling is different, depends on what class you teach.
I have the kids who think they want to be doctors and pharmacists and they have high goals. We have students in our school who do struggle in science and they are really excited with somebody who wants to teach them.
What is your challenge in teaching?
Hard to pick one. To me to get them as excited and enthusiastic about science as I am.
What did you study in the university?
Actually, my degree is in biology and chemistry. I majored in biology, because I thought I was going to be a doctor and was going pre-med. I even worked in the chemical laboratory and all that but I always knew at some point, I would teach. I’ve just always known and thought I would just go and do that and eventually come back and teach later in life. I never knew I’d start teaching sooner. It’s hard to believe I’ve been teaching for 16 -17 years.
Which school did you go to?
I graduated from Deer Park High School.
Which university did you go to?
I kind of went to two. I finished at the University of Houston. I went to UT (University of Texas) and that’s where I took my first chemistry class and I loved it. I went to UT, but I had to choose money, and I came home and started working and going to school. My family helped some, but I had to help some. It’s cheaper to stay and go to school.
What degree did you receive at the University of Houston?
A Bachelor of Science in biology. Many science teachers have degrees in their field; it's not like a teaching degree. We went and got certified later.
Who do you have in your family?
My daughter, and I’m divorced, so just my daughter. But I mean I have my dad, my brother, sister, several aunts and several uncles. I have a very big family.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending it with my family or friends, definitely. I like to read and travel. I do volunteer, a lot of time with my church. That can take all my time. I wish there was more.
Do you have any plan to go back to school and get doctorate degree?
It’s a future goal. One day I do want to go back to my doctorate. I have my master’s. And what I will do with it, I have no clue.
The second clip is rotated by 90 degree.
Deer Park Broadcaster: How many students do you teach?
Maddox: Let me see. 25 times 5, so about 125 to 130 each day.
What do you teach?
I teach chemistry, pre-AP(Advanced Placement) and AP chemistry.
The district selected you as the best secondary school teacher. How do you approach children in a classroom?
I believe learning should be fun. I like to captivate the students, but there is more to it than just fun. After you can have fun learning, I think you need to teach them in ways they can understand and remember it. So I try to have fun in the classroom, but I try to make sure they’re more than prepared for college, because my class is a college preparatory class.
I feel very honored when they come back to visit me and say ‘Thank you for getting me ready. I understood. It makes sense. You wouldn’t believe how many kids didn’t know anything.’ It’s so rewarding to hear them say they were prepared for college, because they took my class. That’s what I found very rewarding, so when I teach I try to always keep that in mind, have fun but balance fun and responsibility of learning.
People around the country, the Congress and national media are saying U.S. students not doing excellent in science, math and engineering, and that we have to restore the education for the future of this country. What is your thought on science education?
Such a hard question, but it’s a good question. I do think we have responsibility as science teachers to prepare our students to think for themselves. I think many of our students, not just students, but adults were content to be told how to do something and when to do something. It’s easier just to do it than to have to think; so we are content to watch TV… I’m just not sure if we challenge ourselves even as adults. I think we have a responsibility as science teachers to inspire students to ask questions to challenge –why things work –and to try to make things better.
Do you actually see some of the students struggling with science?
First of all, I teach like the cream of the crop. I have amazing students, so most of my students are pretty strong but not always. Do I see students struggling, hands down yes. There are always kids who struggle in something. The level of struggling is different, depends on what class you teach.
I have the kids who think they want to be doctors and pharmacists and they have high goals. We have students in our school who do struggle in science and they are really excited with somebody who wants to teach them.
What is your challenge in teaching?
Hard to pick one. To me to get them as excited and enthusiastic about science as I am.
What did you study in the university?
Actually, my degree is in biology and chemistry. I majored in biology, because I thought I was going to be a doctor and was going pre-med. I even worked in the chemical laboratory and all that but I always knew at some point, I would teach. I’ve just always known and thought I would just go and do that and eventually come back and teach later in life. I never knew I’d start teaching sooner. It’s hard to believe I’ve been teaching for 16 -17 years.
Which school did you go to?
I graduated from Deer Park High School.
Which university did you go to?
I kind of went to two. I finished at the University of Houston. I went to UT (University of Texas) and that’s where I took my first chemistry class and I loved it. I went to UT, but I had to choose money, and I came home and started working and going to school. My family helped some, but I had to help some. It’s cheaper to stay and go to school.
What degree did you receive at the University of Houston?
A Bachelor of Science in biology. Many science teachers have degrees in their field; it's not like a teaching degree. We went and got certified later.
Who do you have in your family?
My daughter, and I’m divorced, so just my daughter. But I mean I have my dad, my brother, sister, several aunts and several uncles. I have a very big family.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending it with my family or friends, definitely. I like to read and travel. I do volunteer, a lot of time with my church. That can take all my time. I wish there was more.
Do you have any plan to go back to school and get doctorate degree?
It’s a future goal. One day I do want to go back to my doctorate. I have my master’s. And what I will do with it, I have no clue.
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