Mrs. M. Patterson- Ella Stafford

1. What drew you to science?

What originally drew her to science was dissecting an owl pellet in seventh grade. This was surprising to hear considering she said her other classmates had been disgusted by it. This event is what made her passionate about life science over the other sciences.

2. What made you want to become the teacher?

She was a nurse for 5 years, and her favorite part of this job was patient education. One day a friend of hers asked if she would be willing to act as a substitute teacher and she decided to take it. She went to the class which was filled with children and parents wanting to learn how to prevent an asthmatic attack. After seeing how much the kids wanted to learn, and how appreciative the parents were for having this lesson she realized that teaching was what she wanted to do.

3. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

If she couldn’t be a teacher Mrs. Patterson said she would possibly go back into health care. She touched upon the idea of traveling and writing blogs or becoming a travel agent being fun occupations. However, she stated that overall, she would not be able to venture very far from working with life sciences.

4. What is your favorite part of teaching?

We asked what her favorite part of teaching was, and her answer was quick and simple—the students. She explained how students always bring a different vibe into the classroom every day and it is something to look forward to. Also, the way that the energy can change during a class, sometimes students will walk in quiet but then end up leaving happy and boisterous.

5. What is your favorite unit to teach?

Her favorite units to teach are cells, genetics, and the cardiovascular system, all of which are incredibly interesting subjects.

6. What is something you wish to be passed down through your teaching?

The main thing she hopes to be passed down is the idea of lifelong learning. It is important to constantly educate and better yourself. Hearing students say that they do not think that they are good at a science is not a good mindset to have. There is always a possibility for learning and improvement.

7. Do you have any strong women role models?

Her answer to this question was the wonderful women apart of the science department. She admires the brilliant minds that teach in the department. She explained that they always bring their ‘A-game’ every day, and care so much about their work.

8. Do you have any hobbies you are willing to share?

Her hobbies consist of many outdoor activities. She loves running, playing golf with her kids, and she also enjoys reading.

9. Would you be willing to share a little about your background?

She was born and raised the Carolinas. She also hopes to eventually retire in Carolina as well. She was a nurse for five years and then she moved towards education. She was also a stay-at-home mom for a while before returning to teaching.

10. Who is your favorite music artist?

Her music taste varies. She explained that it depends on the activity or her mood. While running she could be listening to Dua Lipa in the beginning and end with AC/DC. She likes Dave Matthews band, John Mayer, Doja Cat and many others.

11. What is your favorite NDA memory?

While Mrs. Patterson is new to our school this year, she already has two very fond memories. Heritage Day was a favorite, she loved being able to see everyone’s self-expression in their costumes and seeing all the students in their element. She also enjoyed the week before Christmas. The building was decorated so beautifully, and everyone was in such good moods. It was a great time of the year.

Ms. C. Patterson- Ella Stafford

1. What drew you to science?

Ms. Patterson was not able to pinpoint an exact time when she realized her love for science. It is just something that she naturally gravitated towards.

2. What made you want to become a teacher?

Becoming a teacher was something she accidently stumbled upon. She was talked into participating in a PhD program. Though she didn’t like the program, she liked the teaching assistant labs. She tried teaching high school and enjoyed it so much she decided to stay in that career.

3. Do you have any strong women role models?

Her woman role model is a physical chemistry professor from Northeastern University. This was the teacher that talked her into attending graduate school.

4. If you were not a teacher, what would you be doing?

When asked what she would do if not a teacher, she responded she would be a researcher. Not straying away from science.

5. What is your favorite part of teaching?

Her favorite part of teaching is seeing the lightbulb dawn in a student’s eye. She loves the ‘aha’ moment a student has when finally, being able to understand a specific lesson.

6. What is something you wish to be passed down through your teaching?

Something she hopes to be passed down through her teaching is the ability to think logically. Not to let a public opinion sway you from a logical point of view. Thinking critically is something important she hopes to teach.

7. Do you have any hobbies you are willing to share?

Some interesting, fun hobbies of hers are playing the banjo and quilting.

8. Would you like to tell us a little about your background?

She is from the South Shore area. She taught science at Whitman-Hanson for 34 years. She enjoys the all-girls aspect of learning.

9. Who is your favorite musical artist?

Her favorite music artist is the Grascals.

Ms. Hallowell- Michaela Mahoney

1. What drew you to science?

We started the interview by asking Ms. Hallowell what—if anything—drew her to science. She told us that science was something she was always interested in, and that having an abundance of wonderful science teachers made the subject exciting. This is something that I can connect to as a very science focused student with fond memories of past biology and chemistry classes.

2. What made you want to become a teacher?

After reflecting for a moment, Ms. Hallowell shared that when she entered college, she was not fully sure on what she wanted to do, but she knew it included science. Through a tutoring program at her college (Holy Cross), she was able to become an assistant teacher which helped her realize that she wanted to be a teacher.

3. Favorite part of teaching?

She responded, “I love when I get to share my love of science with my students, and when they reciprocate that love.” She also mentioned her love for when students have moments of understanding and realization.

4. Favorite unit to teach?

Ms. Hallowell teaches both chemistry and biology at NDA and she reflected on always being asked if she liked bio or chem more. She told Ella and I, “It depends on the day.” She said that she loves to teach anatomy and genetics. Genetics is a topic that was recently covered in her AP bio class. I remember practically the whole class sharing Ms. Hallowell’s fascination with genetics.

5. What is something you wish to get passed down through your teaching?

She wishes that people are able to find joy in her classroom by including positivity in their mindset. She shared that there is science behind how a positive mindset can reduce one’s anxiety.

6. Did/do you have any strong woman role models?

She replied that her high school biology and chemistry teachers were strong women role models during her high school career. In terms of overall she said, “People who advocate for strong women in STEM are people I tend to gravitate towards.”

7. Do you have any hobbies willing to share?

Ms. Hallowell responded that anything athletic is a hobby of hers. She listed running, biking, coaching track and soccer, and baking.

8. Would you like to tell us a little about your background?

She told Ella and I that she grew up in New Jersey, where she also attended an all-girls Catholic high school. After graduating, she studied chemistry and education as well as participating in a teacher’s program at Holy Cross in Worcester. While at Holy Cross she played field hockey and lacrosse

9. What is your favorite music artist?

Like a good chunk of people at NDA, Ms. Hallowell said the one and only, Taylor Swift.

10. If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

She shared that her plan B was to become a nurse. Ella and I learned that NDA helped Ms. Hallowell remember why she became a teacher

11. Favorite memory at NDA?

She replied, “Heritage day last year, the bouncy house, kickball game, and ice cream. We didn’t have a lot of community events last year so it was special to spend the time together.”

Mrs. Gilliland- Michaela Mahoney

1. What drew you to science?

Mrs. Gilliland shared that both her mother and 3rd grade science teacher, Ms. Smith, made her really excited to learn science.

2. What made you want to become a teacher?

She said she always wanted to be a teacher, especially while playing. She dabbled in researched and gained useful skills from it, but felt isolated and that, “She was not making enough of a difference.” Eventually, her environmental science teacher reached out and asked if she wanted to teach.

3. Favorite part of teaching?

Her favorite part of teaching is the unexpected things that can amount from it.

4. Favorite unit to teach?

Mrs. Gilliland said that her favorite unit to teach is energy resources.

5. What is something you wish to get passed down through your teaching?

She hopes that a feeling of social responsibility and the realization that something does not have to happen to you or someone you know to matter.

6. Did/do you have any strong woman role models?

Mrs. Gilliland was able to list off a lot of strong women that she is related to. Her aunt was a professor at Northeastern as well as a physical therapist, her mother is in the science field, and her sister is a lawyer. She told me that she has always looked up to the women in her life, such as her high school environmental science teacher and chemistry professor, Dr. Henderson.

7. Do you have any hobbies willing to share?

Some of her hobbies include quilting, tennis, baking, gardening, hiking, and walking.

8. Would you like to tell us a little about your background?

Like most of us, Mrs. Gilliland is from Massachusetts. She attended Emmanuel College and then started teaching at NDA.

9. What is your favorite music artist?

She shared that her favorite artist is Haim, a band of 3 sisters.

10. If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

She replied that she would want to work for a local government with conservation.

11. Favorite memory at NDA?

Mrs. Gilliland said her favorite memories are from Heritage Day. She likes to see the joy on everyone’s faces and the time that allows everyone to relax