Mary Lou Woods

Tell us why you became a teacher

I always enjoyed working with kids and loved their creativity and self-discovery. Wanting to be a part of that was my goal and wanting to be of service to students who have not had the means to learn about science through experiences made me want it even more. Each day is a new insight into the mind of a child that gives me the opportunity to learn even more.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

When I taught elementary school I worked together with our staff to develop an outdoor classroom (a nature trail) where students got to attend sessions outdoors with me, other teachers and with presenters on various science topics. This was such an incredible place to watch the curiosity of young children as they made sense of the wooded area of their own neighborhood. Students researched, journaled, tested, and experienced science in its truest form.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The money would be used to bring outside experiences to my students and bring my students to experience science outside of the four walls of our building. Bringing in presenters that would allow our students to experience hands-on science in a way that is real world and career oriented is the best way for our students with limited backgrounds to learn and develop a sense of who they are and who they want to be. Developing a mentor program for 6-8 graders with scientists would be awesome.