McQuaid Jesuit High School science teacher Jeanne Kaidy received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Brighton-Pittsford Post asked her some questions about the honor.
How do you feel about receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching?
“I am overwhelmed. The outpouring of congratulations from colleagues, parents, students and friends leaves me speechless. It has inspired me to work even harder to find even more new and creative ways to engage my students.”
Are you excited for your trip to Washington, D.C.?
“Extremely excited. It will be a great honor to meet President Obama. I am inspired by his leadership and admire how he values education.”
Do you have any idea what you will do with the $10,000 of award money?
“Yes, being an environmental science teacher, I have made my house green in a variety of ways. I plan to use the money to install solar panels on my house.”
How did you decide to become an educator?
“I love kids, especially teenagers because they are about to enter adulthood and figuring out who they are and what they value. I’ve always loved nature and wanted to share what I see as wonderful and awe-inspiring with my students.”
Who is a teacher or professor who inspired you and how?
“Dr. William Hallahan at Nazareth College, because he is such a good model of a scientist. He always had such interesting specimens and observations to share with us. He made science so interesting for me. John Ladd, now retired from McQuaid, who was my mentor and a model teacher.”
What teaching moment is most memorable?
“Each year I take my Environmental Science students to Mendon Ponds to do a pond study. I love to watch them discover a whole new world in the organisms they collect and see how excited they become when they discover this new world they hadn’t known existed.”
What are the greatest challenges in education today?
“The population is woefully ignorant of the process of science and far too influenced by special interests and the media. They are not equipped to understand how science works and to value what it is that scientists do. Teachers have to work against the constant influence of media, and that can be difficult.”
What advice can you offer for someone who wants to go into education?
“Don’t do it unless you feel passionate about teaching kids. You will do yourself and your students a disservice otherwise. If you are passionate and believe in what you teach, it will make you an authentic teacher. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You never improve unless you constantly try new techniques in the classroom. And you should never stop trying new things. Teachers evolve over time because they are open to growth and reflect on their teaching.”
