Kyla Burns

2005 Graduate
Biology Education
Johnston High School
Johnston, Iowa

Teacher prep

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 Kyla. "I also like interacting with people so this is the perfect job for me. And lab work does not really interest me."

So when Kyla, 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.

BETALmania

Kyla 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.

She 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," she 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.

"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."

On the job

As a relatively new biology and health teacher at Johnston High School in suburban Des Moines, Kyala uses many of the techniques she learned from BETAL.

"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."