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Hands on approach to science is cornerstone of teachers philosophy of her subject area.

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In anybody's reckoning in the Superior school district, physics or a chemistry classes haven't been held since the new junior-senior high was built a number of years ago.

That has changed since physics and chemistry teacher Jeanne Evenson came on board with her expertise and experience in these all-important subject areas.

Evenson comes to the Superior campus from the San Carlos District. Previous to her employment there, she taught for 16 years in the Mesa school district. She said recently that she doesn't teach any other subject area than physigs or chemistry. She is, she said, "All physics and chemistry, that's all I do." Some years in her career she has had classes in both of these academic topics, sometimes only one or the other, but it has been all about physics and chemistry.

Outside the classroom, Evenson is Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Superior.

Evenson, like the other dedicated teachers in Superior, worked hard before the start of the recently begun 2010-2011 school year to prepare her room and program. This involved in her case the updating of safety features such as the shower and eyewash area for students and anyone handling chemicals in case of mishap. She has also revamped and organized the chemical storage area using a more modern system.

The first two weeks of school Evenson kept her students focused on the study of mathematical graphing. She drilled the basics of five different graphs students should know about from Algebra I. She explained that the basics of doing both physics and chemistry and physics are graphing and units conversion.

Beyond that the new teacher has a defined philosophy of science that involves a "hands on" experiential approach. "You have to DO science," she said. "You have to do it. You can't just stand there and look at it."

Science, she said, is not something you can read about and hope to understand. You have to learn to do the experiments and do them right. "There is a right way and a wrong way to collect data," she said.

Student Chris Tomerlin likes this approach as well. "I do," he said, "because there is only so much science you can learn from a book."

Tomerlin said he doesn't know where his career path will lead in the future.

One thing is certain, though, having access to chemistry and physics classes will be a help to Superior students in applying for and succeeding in college. "Most of the kids are taking the Glasses because they need them for college prep," Evenson said.

She currently has 20 students in physics and 10 in chemistry. The prerequisite is passing algebra, she commented.

Students interested in physics and chemistry should seek advice from their school counselor or other advisors.



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