Teacher of the Month

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Our Teacher of the Month for March is Courtney Sasse, a science teacher at Stevensville Middle School. We had the chance to talk to her about what drew her to teach science, how she spends her free time and more! You can nominate a teacher who makes a difference online here: https://www.shoreupdate.com/teachers/.

 

What is your educational background?

I grew up in Queen Anne's County and attended the public schools in Centreville. I graduated from Towson University in 2000 with a degree in Elementary Education and was in a special program for those wanting to teach math and science at the middle school level. I've been teaching at Stevensville Middle School since graduating from college. In 2012, I received my master’s degree in Geosciences from Mississippi State University.

 

What drew you to teaching science?

I originally thought that I wanted to teach math because I have always enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the subject, and it was something that I was good at throughout my own schooling. But in college I really fell in love with my science classes. The natural world has always interested me and so my goal in teaching is to lead others to a deeper appreciation of our Earth and help them to understand why the things that we see outside of our window are happening. And I still get to use my math skills when we analyze our data!

 

What are some aspects of teaching you find difficult? What about aspects you find rewarding?

After being in the classroom for over 20 years, I have noticed that my job responsibilities have increased while the time to perform them has not. Teachers don't just plan and teach their lessons each day. We are responsible for many other things, such as completing paperwork, covering other classes, contacting parents, planning school events, and attending meetings, on top of our usual lesson planning and grading. It can be very challenging to strike a healthy work-life balance and still feel that we are doing what's in the best interest of our students and our own families.

My students are the reason I am a teacher! There is nothing more rewarding than to have a conversation with a student that leads to an AHA moment for them or to listen to groups of students working together on a task, helping each other to understand the content. It makes all my hard work and planning worth it at the end of the day.

 

Any memorable or interesting moments from the classroom that come to mind that you would be able to share?

Many of my most memorable moments come from the time the 6th graders spent at NorthBay Environmental Center. It was a week-long overnight field trip that incorporated the environmental sciences with math, language arts, and social-emotional skills. Students learned so much about our world and themselves through ziplining, canoeing, ropes courses and just being out in nature. I will never forget the transformations that I saw in some students as their confidence grew throughout the week. Unfortunately, we have not been able to continue this trip but my fond memories will last forever.

 

Was there a teacher who left a big impact on you?

I can't say that there was a specific teacher that left a big impact on me throughout my own schooling, but I certainly feel lucky to have had many excellent teachers here in Queen Anne's County. The teacher that had the biggest impact on me was my classroom neighbor and fellow 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Debra Crow. I will never forget how helpful she was to me during my first year of teaching. I don't think I would have survived without her! She helped me to plan every day and showed me how to create engaging lessons that were fun for both me and my students. After working together for many years, I'd like to think that her passion for science and teaching helped to mold me into the teacher that I am today. Although she retired and moved away, I'm thankful that we are still able to keep in touch.

 

When you're not teaching, how do you spend your time?

Most of my time outside of school is spent with my husband, daughter, and son. My family has a busy activity schedule, but I do enjoy baking and beachcombing for sea glass and other sandy treasures in my free time. As a family, we love to relax by the pool or on the beach in the summertime or just hang out at home playing with our cat, Pirate.