Beth Neace, MEd

My love affair with science started in fifth grade when my teacher’s daughter dissected a shark with us while she was home on spring break. I was one of the few fifth graders that didn’t get sick or complain about the smell. I was enthralled and knew from that moment I would do something in the realm of science. As an undergraduate, I studied Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri (MIZ…..ZOU!) because I still wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take, and biology was my favorite subject coming out of high school. While I was there though, I got pulled in so many other directions because I’m also an avid reader, lover of history, and curious about all the different paths of science you can take. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. So, I took a job as a teacher’s assistant for a former professor and continued to work in a biochemistry lab doing research. It was in the teacher’s assistant role that I found what I loved to do: teach. Luckily for me, Mizzou had a graduate program geared to science and math majors that allowed me to earn a master’s degree and teaching certificate. A little more than a year and a half later, I graduated with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Science Education.

Ready to take on my first classroom and group of students, I was excited to look for my first job, until my hubby (who’s in the Air Force) informed me we were moving overseas to Italy (Ahhh, shucks ☺️). Unfortunately, there was never a position open in the science department at the DoD school, so I spent my time working in a medical clinic and subbing for the elementary school. It wasn’t until we moved back to the States that I finally got to teach in my very own classroom. Over the next seven years, I taught at both the high school (biology, chemistry and anatomy and physiology) and middle school levels in Colorado and Indiana. Now I’ve gotten to transition my teaching to the virtual world and take on new challenges, while still getting to teach the subjects I love.

Military life keeps us on the move but home is where ever my hubby, son, and daughter are! We love all things outdoors, so we spend a lot of time visiting cool places in the different states we’ve lived! When I have a few minutes of my own, you’ll find me doing one of two things, reading or cooking. I will read practically anything you put in front of me, but my favorite is historical fiction. When it comes to cooking, I’m constantly trying to figure out how to get my kids to eat healthy things, like their veggies, but also indulge in my love of baking.

On Teaching: My teaching style changes depending on the topic we’re learning. I might lecture for a topic that is brand-new or I know will be have a lot of clarifying questions, and then switch to a semi-flipped classroom to allow us more time to work with the topic in small groups or solo. I also love using demos, real-life applications, or any other tool I’ve learned over the years to help my students connect with the material and add to their scientific understanding and critical thinking.