We are so excited to relaunch our ever-popular Teacher Tuesday for the 2019-20 school year. This week, get to know 8th Grade Integrated Studies Science teacher Sarah Hollingsworth.
What strikes you most about the students at Hillbrook?
Hillbrook students are bold, and not just in the literal or traditional sense of the word. Even those with quiet voices are boldly themselves and comfortable in their own skin.
When you think about the students at Hillbrook, what’s the one thing that stands out to you?
The students at Hillbrook are creative thinkers who are willing to take initiative. Our community of learners puts themselves out there in efforts to stretch their learning and create something in which they wholeheartedly believe.
What is your favorite unit or project? What lesson are you most proud of and how does this resonate with students?
Last year, I really enjoyed our introductory investigation on Red Gum Lerp Psyllids that we conducted with seventh graders. Students worked together as an entire class through scientific drawing, microscopy, and research, to discover an entire world they hadn’t seen before, living on a single eucalyptus leaf.
What made you choose to come to Hillbrook to teach?
What drew me to Hillbrook was the student-centered, project-based learning. I wanted to be a part of a progressive community of educators who really worked alongside students to help them discover who they are as part of a local and global community. I got the sense early on that the saying, “if there’s a will, there’s a way” was very real here.
What are you most looking forward to at Hillbrook in the next few months?
It’s a real treat to be able to teach a group of students more than once. I am looking forward to seeing how much has changed from last year’s seventh grade to this year’s eighth!
Tell us about the last book you read?
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. I was thrilled to hear that members of Hillbrook’s senior leadership team were reading it this summer, and I encourage folks who are interested in digging into racial justice work to add it to their libraries.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Ms. Hollingsworth!