BROOKINGS Brookings science teacher Lisa Bahe is South Dakotas Outstanding Biology Teacher of the year. The state Science Teaching Association recognized her and other top educators at a convention Feb. 6-8 in Huron.
Bahe currently works at Mickelson Middle School but said the award is for teaching biology at the high school last year.
Im down at the middle school now not teaching biology. Now Im teaching earth-space science, Bahe said. I loved what I taught. I just needed a change in getting back to the middle school. The last time I was here, I loved it.
She said teachers and administrators are supportive at both schools.
Im very fortunate to work for the school district I work for, because they allow us to take the state standards and try to find the best way to present those, Bahe said. Its a team effort at the high school, working with (science teachers) Jessica Blocker and Phil Thramer. They are part of that award too, because we did a lot of stuff together.
Bahe is a familiar face in the district. She taught in Brookings from 1996-2004 and coached the Bobcat girls basketball team to a 2004 state championship.
I taught in Pierre for 10 years and I taught in Mitchell for two years before I made my way back here (in 2018), Bahe said. Ive just always been surrounded by great science teachers that have helped me and mentored me. A lot of what I do is a reflection of years of their support.
She currently coaches 8th grade girls basketball and strives to make connections for her students between the hardwood and the halls of science.
In my science classroom, we work a lot in groups, Bahe said. So trying to instill that groupwork and how to work with someone that ties in a lot with coaching. Youre trying to get kids to come together and work together. Sometimes youve got conflicting personalities and we talk about figuring a way out to make it work.
She said technology is changing the teaching profession.
You can bring more things into the classroom versus just a textbook, Bahe said. You can bring a biome into your classroom through virtual reality through videos or simulations that we can do online.
In the end, she said its still about inspiring kids.
When you see kids get excited about things or have those oh, I get it moments those are the best parts, Bahe said. Like today, we were finishing up a unit. I put out some microscopes and fossils. Some of the kids were just amazed, and its so fun to see them get excited. Theyre not looking to see when the bell is going to ring. Instead, the bell rings and theyre like, oh no, I got to go.
Whether teaching biology or earth-space science, Bahe demonstrates to kids that seemingly dissimilar topics are often deeply intertwined.
I think its important the kids understand theyre not standalone subjects. Theyre all interrelated, she said. We look at natural resources of the earth and talk about testing water But then also, you can use macroinvertebrates or water insects to tell you water quality too. So we did that side, which is completely biology and ecology.
She said those connections also extend to other classes.
We can use science as a hook to get kids in and then do math and reading, Bahe said. The kids go, wait, this is math. Well, yes there is math in science. We incorporate a lot of those things into science. And well write a sort of explanation of how something works. Theyll say, wait, this is writing. And yes thats in science, too It can be tied into a lot of different areas. I think its important for kids to see how things are interrelated.
She herself explored different disciplines before embracing education.
I went to school for nursing and just decided that wasnt going to be for me, Bahe said. I worked for park and rec in the summers, and I loved working with kids. So I started to explore coaching and teaching I envisioned myself maybe being a PE teacher, but I love the science classroom. So when I went to college, I ended up doing both and it paid off. Ive taught way more science than I ever have PE.
In the end, shes glad she started teaching and hopes to encourage a few kids to do the same.
There is a huge shortage of science teachers. I had a student teacher two years ago and we havent had one since, Bahe said. With science, I like it because its really so much hands-on. You can really draw kids in You hope to spark them so theyre always interested and always asking questions and inquisitive to have that sense of curiosity.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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