Teacher Feature: Cheryl
Between her STEM expertise and thoughtfulness toward all of her students, Cheryl is a truly top-notch teacher.
A parent shared with us: “Cheryl is one of the finest academic minds I know and also one of the most persistent, calm, and thorough teachers I have ever met. Any student who gets the chance to work with her has truly won a prize! She is motivated, measured, persistent, and compassionate.”
Learn more about Cheryl below.
About Cheryl
Cheryl graduated with honors from Stanford University with a BA in Human Biology and a focus in ecology. She also holds an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, Missoula. Cheryl has been supporting students 1:1 in Marin County since 2012. She teaches all K-8 subjects, biology, high school math, as well as organizational and test-taking skills (she’s helped students prep for the SAT!).
Cheryl believes strongly in the power of a 1:1 education and the importance of tailoring instruction to a student’s pace and learning style. Her pedagogy centers around ensuring the most positive and confidence-building learning experience possible. When she is not teaching, she loves to hike Marin's many beautiful trails and spend time with her 8-year-old twin daughters.
Q & A with Cheryl
When did you start teaching and why?
I moved from full-time field biologist to part-time teacher when I was pregnant with twins back in January 2012, and have been happily working with students 1:1 ever since. Before teaching 1:1 exclusively, I taught in classrooms for two full decades, primarily as an outdoor educator in Hawaii and Alaska.
What’s your favorite subject to teach and why?
I love teaching math because it's so logical--once you know the rules it's kind of fun! I'm also teaching more science these days, and I find that just as thrilling because there's just so much to learn and explore in STEM subjects.
What do you enjoy most about teaching with Pacific Preparatory?
Working with the administrative staff at Pacific Prep has truly been a pleasure. They always have my back, whether it comes to scheduling, materials, or tech. I'm really impressed with the continual professionalism and kindness.
Can you tell me about a specific time when you saw a student thriving at Pacific Preparatory?
Yes, many! For example, I worked with one student who was experiencing test-taking anxiety. After one session of working with her, the anxiety problem was solved, and it felt truly incredible to witness such a huge change in a student in just one short lesson together. We talked a lot about the goal of finishing tests within the given time period and how to use relaxation techniques to calm and focus the mind. It was like a lightbulb went off; it was all the student needed to thrive!
What are your top 3 book recommendations in your subject area?
For science, I really enjoy the Evan-Moor Daily Science series at all grade levels. The Tinker Active Science books are really fantastic for elementary grades because they contain so many fabulous hands-on activities. And for math I continue to use the Spectrum Critical Thinking for Math books, which help support students who need to master their foundational math skills.
What is your favorite activity to do outside of teaching?
As a busy mom and teacher I need my down time, and my favorite activity is to hike in beautiful places, like Carson Ridge, which is pictured in my above photo.
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