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About me
My name is Brandi Thomas and I was grateful and proud to be nominated for teacher of the year at Atlantic Coast High School for the 2015-2016 school year. I earned my Dual Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Ecology from Carroll University in 2003 (Go Generals!) and my Master of Science in Biological Sciences from Clemson University (Go Tigers!). In addition I have also completed 18 graduate course hours in Secondary Education at Jacksonville University. I have highly qualified status in both Biology and Chemistry 6-12th grade subject areas. My career in teaching has enabled me to take on exciting challenges, work with a great team of individuals, and help build life changing relationships.
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Taking on challenges has been a theme in my teacher career. I thrive on creating new opportunities and new ways of teaching. My first teaching job was at Robert E Lee High School and I taught biology and chemistry to the inaugural group of Early College Students. I still remember the excitement of being trained in Worchester, MA by the original Bill Gates Early College staff. I also remember how great the lobster was in Worchester! During my time at Lee I was awarded an outstanding teacher award from FSCJ. I was also the lead magnet teacher for the Early College Recruitment program.
After three wonderful years at Robert E. Lee, I decided to transfer to the newly accredited International Baccalaureate Program at Jean Ribault High School. I love challenges and decided to answer the call of the community and district and dedicated myself to help build the IB program at Ribault High School. While at Ribault I served as the STC (School Technology Coordinator) and as the ALC (afterschool Accelerated Learning Coordinator). In 2010 with the birth of my awesome son, I heard about a new high school opening in Jacksonville and decided to go for it. I have been at Atlantic Coast High School since its opening year in 2010 and it has been the best decision of my career. Thanks to a great administrative team and outstanding peers, I’ve grown as a teacher at Atlantic Coast. Being in the presence of so many master teachers enhanced my growth as an educator and I will always be grateful for the wonderful role models and mentor teachers at Atlantic Coast. Being part of such wonderful team here at Atlantic Coast it is easy to take part in other school activities as well. I find great satisfaction being the school blood drive coordinator, co-sponsor of the Science National Honor Society and I am especially honored to be the department coordinator for our science team. I wanted to become a teacher because I am a nurturer at heart and I enjoy all things science. I am dedicated to enthusiastic and dynamic teaching. My goal is to make science enjoyable by all. I want students that love science to become passionate about it, and I want students who don’t enjoy science to walk out of my class saying, “Actually that wasn’t bad at all, I sort of liked it, and I learned something”. I care about my students, and they know it. By forming relationships with my students, my students feel supported and understood and sometimes that is the most important lesson. |