Not every student will be drawn to physics, but one of my primary goals as a teacher is to make sure that every student knows that they belong in the physics classroom, are completely capable of doing physics, and can find something about physics to enjoy or find useful.
Katy’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Physics
Why Physics
I fell in love with physics and astronomy in high school, when each day revealed a new way to see and describe the world. I found my community in those who shared my passion for dissecting hypothetical scenarios, simply for the joy of exploring a physics problem together. Physics and astronomy are incredibly expansive fields, capable of completely transforming how you perceive the world and offering unique approaches to thinking and problem-solving that you might not encounter elsewhere.
In college, my love for physics was put to the test. The subject didn’t come easily to me, and I often questioned whether I was really suited for it. However, with a healthy dose of persistence and a lot of support from friends and professors, I persevered. Now, I view that struggle as a valuable experience. I’ve been in both positions: the student who breezes through a problem and finishes with time to spare, and the one who gets stuck five minutes in, wondering why it seems so much easier for everyone else. This dual perspective, I believe, makes me a more empathetic and effective teacher.
Professional Experience
Katy got her first taste of teaching through tutoring, while still in high school. She still loves tutoring, as it is the perfect test ground for trying new ways to explain concepts. She also spent a couple of winter breaks as a playground supervisor at a K-8 school. This experience helped her realize she made the right decision with teaching high school. During college, Katy worked for the Physics department for four years as a grader, lab assistant, and teaching assistant in various physics and astronomy classes.
Katy completed her student teaching as a physics and astronomy teacher at Harding High School in St. Paul, MN, with a host teacher who is a Knowles Senior Fellow. In her first full year teaching, Katy taught Physics, P.E., and one semester of Chemistry at June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco.
Katy will start her second year of teaching Physics and Chemistry at June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco, California in the 2024-2025 school year.
Hobbies
Outside of the classroom you can find Katy at Giants games, humming along to the Star Trek theme(s), and finding new ways to use tofu!
Academic Background
- Carleton College (Bachelor of Arts in Physics)
- Carleton College (Teacher Certificate)
Resources
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Blog Problematizing Frameworks for Emerging MultilingualsTeaching immigrant students involves adapting to unpredictable arrivals and varied backgrounds. Frameworks help, but personal insights from students often guide the best support.
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Blog Where are Teachers in the Conversation About Education?Teachers’ voices are crucial but often overlooked in education policy discussions. By sharing their experiences and insights, teachers can influence and improve educational practices.
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Blog The Counter-Intuitive Benefits of Teacher Leadership: Staying Sane and SustainedBeginning teachers may resist leadership roles, but engaging in them boosts their confidence, job satisfaction, and reduces stress, benefiting both them and their students.
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Blog Bringing Teacher Voice to the TableTeachers are struggling with a rigid, mandated math curriculum that limits their autonomy and contributes to high teacher turnover. They need more say in decisions affecting their classrooms.
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Blog Enriching Student Learning Through Cross-Disciplinary CollaborationA teacher reflects on a successful Socratic seminar, highlighting how cross-disciplinary collaboration and shared literacy strategies enhance student learning and engagement.
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Blog Use Your Story: Teacher Learning Through StorytellingThe blog highlights how storytelling, as showcased in KSTF’s *Kaleidoscope*, helps teachers reflect on and improve their practices, fostering growth and understanding in education.
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Blog What Does it Mean for Teachers to be the Primary Agents of Educational Improvement?Since 2002, KSTF has focused on developing teacher leadership, showing that teachers are key to driving educational improvement through collaboration and self-initiative.
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Blog Assessing Individual Roles in Collaborative RelationshipsKSTF emphasizes that teacher leadership isn’t just for experienced educators; early-career teachers can lead by improving collaboration and student learning.
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Blog What is the Most Important Thing We Can Teach Out Students? Ask How We Know What We KnowA science teacher aims to inspire curiosity and self-awareness in students, emphasizing the importance of understanding how we know what we know beyond memorizing facts.
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Blog Leadership Without Followership: Teachers as Leaders in Educational ImprovementTeacher leadership is evolving from traditional top-down models to a distributed approach where teachers lead by first changing themselves to inspire broader change.
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Blog What is the Most Important Thing We Can Teach Our Students? A Plea For CompassionBeing “college and career ready” goes beyond skills; it’s about fostering compassion. Teachers should prioritize understanding and empathy to truly prepare students for life.
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Blog What is the Most Important Thing We Can Teach Our Students? No One ThingDetermining the “most important” thing to teach is challenging. Ultimately, valuing students and making them feel valued is crucial for effective learning.
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Blog What is the Most Important Thing We Can Teach Our Students? The Language of PowerA high school science teacher reflects on teaching beyond content, emphasizing that the true goal is equipping students with the “language of power” to engage critically with the world.
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Blog More than a Case Study: Optimism in the Biology ClassroomAfter a student lost his battle with cancer, a teacher reflects on using biology lessons on cancer to offer hope and understanding, honoring the student’s memory.
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Blog Making the Best of Winter to Teach Engineering DesignTo combat senioritis and engage students, a teacher created a snowshoe-building project integrating physics, engineering, and math, leading to enthusiastic participation and deeper learning.
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Blog Three Ways to Squash Curiosity (And Three Ways to Foster it)To spark student curiosity, avoid answering every question immediately, teach thematically, and pose questions with no known answers.
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Blog Collective Teacher AgencyKSTF is exploring how collective agency—groups working towards shared goals—can drive educational improvement and impact through its networked community.
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Blog Backbone Teachers: The Importance of a Networked CommunityKSTF’s Backbone Teachers are early-career educators trained as leaders. The KSTF network enhances practice, advocacy, and problem-solving in education.
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Blog The Role of Evaluation in a Learning OrganizationKSTF’s evaluation focuses on continuous learning and improvement, prioritizing ongoing questions and transparency over fixed targets and accountability.
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Blog Optimizing Student Learning with Complex InstructionKSTF explores how Complex Instruction (CI) can enhance equity in groupwork, helping all students engage more equally and effectively in learning tasks.
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Blog Modeling at the Intersection of Learning and TeachingThe blog discusses how model-based teaching reflects our natural process of creating and using mental models to understand phenomena, enhancing STEM education through authentic, iterative practices.
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