To be a successful scientist is to ask questions, gather observations and data, and build explanations from this evidence. These are transferable skills that I believe can help support students’ growth in becoming compassionate members of their own communities.”
Claire’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Biology
Why Biology
“I’ve always been a curious person and to me biology is all about asking questions and digging into why things are happening around us. In teaching these complex ideas, I am excited to connect biology to my students’ everyday experience, in areas such as the human body, the local ecosystem, or current events. Ultimately, I also think that learning about the complexity of living organisms can spark compassion and empathy, and I hope for my students to carry these values beyond the biology classroom.”
Professional Experience
During her undergraduate studies, Claire worked as a teaching assistant for Cellular Biology and Genetics lab courses, as well as for lab-based biology courses for high school students during the summer. Additionally, she interned with Quizlet, an experience that allowed her to bring teachers together and expand her knowledge of classroom techniques. She also interned with DonorsChoose in marketing and communications. Following her graduation, she worked as a strategy consultant for LEK Consulting. During her graduate studies, Claire worked as a graduate assistant for the Master of Science in Education program.
Claire will begin her first year of teaching biology at Kenwood Academy in Chicago, Illinois, during the 2023–2024 school year.
Hobbies
Claire enjoys traveling to new cities, running and biking along the Chicago lakefront, journaling, studying architecture and attending concerts.
Academic Background
- University of Chicago (Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Psychology)
- Northwestern University (Master of Science in Education and Social Policy)