My Background


Just doin' as I'm told...

My academic background is in Astrophysics: I graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.Sc. in Physics & Astronomy (and a minor in Mathematics), and then from Western University with a M.Sc. in Astronomy. 

In 2001, I deferred acceptance for my Ph.D. in Astronomy at the University of British Columbia in order to teach at an independent high school for a year. After that first year of teaching, I fell in love with the profession, cancelled my acceptance to UBC, and obtained my B.Ed. from Brock University.

Since then, I have been teaching Mathematics, Physics, Earth & Space Science and General Science at the high school level. After teaching for 5 years in southern Ontario, my husband (also a secondary school teacher) and I threw our resumés to the wind, hoping to land together in Ontario's near north. We were very lucky to both find jobs, in our teaching subjects, at the same school, on beautiful Manitoulin Island in 2006. We have been here ever since.

I have also been fortunate to combine my love of Astronomy and teaching through outreach, particularly for teachers. I was the Education Coordinator for the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) for 8 years, and am currently Chair of the STAO ScienceWorks committee, where I continue to present their grade 9 Earth & Space Science workshop. I routinely speak at star parties, and am now an amateur astronomer myself.

2015 was an auspicious year, as I was the recipient of the ORION K12 survey tablets, OAME's Award for Exceptional and Creative Teaching in Secondary Mathematics, and an Award of Excellence from my school board.


Currently going through a "mid-career crisis," I am converting my classes over to BYOD, focusing on independent and proficiency-based learning. This blog is my journey.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Heather,
    We at TVO would like to feature your edublog on a new platform. Could you please email me so that I can share the details?
    Thanks!
    Nikki Luscombe
    nluscombe@tvo.org

    ReplyDelete

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