By: Anjeza Skudrinja Ms. Lavallee is a science teacher at Watertown High School, she teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology, Forensic Science, and sophomore Biology. She went to UConn for her bachelor’s degree in Biology and received her Master of Education from Nova Southeastern. Before becoming a teacher, Ms. Lavallee had 2 other careers. She had to teach and train personnel as part of her jobs. She also teaches Sunday school where she realized she loved teaching kids. She says, “I could only teach science! I love every aspect of science. It explains the world”. During her 15 years of teaching she has only taught at Watertown. She stated her favorite part about teaching is “the students’ excitement. Sometimes they are excited to see the results of a lab or work through an activity, or they are excited to learn how or why something works. I love seeing that spark”. Teaching virtually has been hard for Ms. Lavallee because she has not been able to get instant feedback. Ms. Lavallee says “I like to look at students’ faces for signs that they understand, or they need more help. I think relying on Google Meet or email has its limitations but, those are the best options for now. It is important to keep trying to make connections.” While being away from school Ms. Lavallee states “I miss seeing my students every day. I like hearing their opinion and input. I also miss labs! It is hard to teach science without having labs available.” Ms. Lavallee states that she wishes students would take advantage of Google Meet and office hours. Students have been communicating with her mainly through Google comments. Ms. Lavallee’s advice to students during virtual learning is to ask questions. She states, “I would rather a student ask me twenty questions than remain confused”. Ms. Lavallee remarks, “My main goal is for students to learn the heart of the subject. Many smaller details may not be possible right now, but I want them to know the big ideas. Taking a variety of classes in high school helps students find the right path when looking at colleges. I need the students to have that background to make decisions about their future.” During quarantine, Ms. Lavallee has been going on walks and skyping with her older son and friends. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, knitting, and sewing. She has also made masks for family and friends. During the summer Ms. Lavallee enjoys going to the beach but is not sure that is possible for this summer. She looks forward to reading on her deck since she does not get to as much during the school year. Regarding the future, Ms. Lavallee looks forward to connecting with her students again. She says, “My students drive the class. Often, they ask questions that lead to projects or labs. I love their enthusiasm”.
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