Teaching challenges me while allowing me to empower students of a variety of skill levels and backgrounds, enabling them to read their worlds.”
Kristine’s Story
Kristine’s desire to become a teacher began with her passion for chemistry. Kristine fell in love with the subject when her high school teacher explained that a door was not just a big piece of wood, but millions of tiny atoms, which led her to see the world as a coherent and orderly place. “I choose to teach chemistry because it allows me to see the full complexity and beauty of the world around me.” Kristine received a BS in chemistry from the University of South Carolina and went on to Stanford University to pursue a Master of Arts in education.
While at Stanford, Kristine began to appreciate the importance of deveoloping relationships with students and teaching for equity. She completed her student teaching at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, Calif., an experience which allowed her to experience the full complexity of teaching. “Teaching is challenging but I look forward to making a difference in the lives of my students.”
Kristine has worked as a resident advisor and as a supplemental instruction leader at the University of South Carolina, as well as a substitute teacher in Fairfax, Va., and San Mateo. She has gone on mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. Fluent in Spanish and French, Kristine is a recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, including Stanford Education Scholarship and McKissick Honors College Scholarship. She was in Who’s Who for American Colleges and Universities in Spring 2007.