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Kyla Stegmeir Burns

Kyla Stegmeir Burns
Kyla Stegmeir Burns

Teacher prep

Kyla Stegmeir Burns says her experience with the Biological Education Teaching and Learning (BETAL) learning community prepared her for initial science teaching job at Johnston High School.

Life as a science teacher is a perfect fit for Kyla Stegmeir Burns.

"I really like science and I wanted to pass along my interest and passion to others," said Burns, a 2005 graduate in biology. "I also like interacting with people so this is the perfect job for me.

"And lab work does not really interest me."

So when Burns, as an Iowa State undergraduate, had the opportunity to more learn about the teaching profession she did. One of those opportunities came as a member of the Biology Education Teaching and Learning (BETAL) learning community.

The yearlong course provides life science majors seeking secondary education teaching certification and elementary education majors with a science endorsement with resources, mentoring and camaraderie.

Burns says she was in an education methods class when Jim Colbert, BETAL coordinator, came to the class to recruit new members. It was an easy decision to join.

"He sucked me right in," she said.

Burns was familiar with Colbert from her days with the Skunk River Navy, the Biology Club and even worked in his lab. She said the structure of BETAL also impressed her.

The learning community however goes beyond what a traditional methods course does.

"You talk about being a science teacher and the tools you can use," Burns said.

Throughout the yearlong course, BETAL members take field trips to a variety of biological sites in Iowa. Speakers come to class. Issues in science education are taught. These include how to teach evolution in the public classroom and how to use animals in a classroom.

During Burns' year in BETAL, the students also attended the Iowa science teachers convention in Des Moines.

Burns says the hands-on activities gave her the background and experience she needed as a first-year teacher.

"The field trips, especially where we got to do hands-on science, were the most valuable aspects of the learning community," she said. "I learned things that I could try out on my own classroom."

Which she now does as a first-year biology and health teacher at Johnston High School in suburban Des Moines. But even with her degree and BETAL experiences, teaching high school biology is a lot more work than she imagined.

"I expected this to be a lot of work but it was much more than I expected," she said. "I haven't taught health class before and just preparing for something that you're not that knowledgeable about is difficult."

Burns says BETAL helped prepare her to create activities that pique her student's interest in science.

"I tell students that I'm not going to make them a biologist but instead I want them to be scientifically literate," she said. "I want my students to be able to pick up a newspaper and understand an article on a science issue."