Teachers have the ability to enact change through the creation of equitable and supportive communities of learners. My hope is that my students will use the skills they develop in my classroom to positively impact their communities.”
Jonathan’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Biology
Why Biology
“I chose biology because I have always been fascinated with discovering how the natural world operates. I also appreciate the opportunity to expand learning opportunities beyond the classroom and into the natural environment.”
Professional Experience
As an undergraduate student, Jonathan designed and completed two novel research projects. One project involved traveling to Belize to measure the effects of nutrient input, sedimentation and herbivory on algal turfs. The other project, which was published in the journal Ethology, looked to identify specific structures of sound that elicited fearful responses from birds.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Jonathan served as coordinator for the Outdoor Leadership Training Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. In this role, he facilitated trainings, organized wilderness excursions and mentored a group of more than 30 student guides. This outdoor enthusiast also spent three winters working as a ski instructor. During the offseason, he worked in various capacities at Gold Arrow Camp. Most notably, Jonathan served as director of the camp’s backpacking program. As director, he designed and launched the Outdoor Leadership Course, a stand alone camp program created to develop leadership abilities in high school students over the course of a week-long backpacking trip.
Hobbies
Jonathan enjoys skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, hiking, camping and spending time at the beach and in the ocean.
Academic Background
- Stanford University (Master of Arts in Education)
- University of California, Los Angeles (Bachelor of Science in Biology )