By Isabel Santanilla
Photo by Isabel Santanilla
When students walk into Biomed, they are prepared to come out after four years with carefully crafted skills that can help them be successful in medical and scientific fields alike. Meet the two new teachers who are going to lay the foundation of our future doctors, nurses, and forensic scientists, Ms. Burrows and Ms. Wilkerson.
For those unfamiliar with Biomed, it is one of two Areas of Concentration (A.C.) programs offered to students at the Willow School. It is a four-year program consisting of Principles of Biomedical Sciences, Human Body Systems, Medical Intervention, and Biomedical Innovation.
“I think the Biomed program,” Ms. Wilkerson, the new Human Body Systems teacher, stated, “gives students hands-on experience using many different lab techniques and skills needed for the biomedical field.
“From the very first year of the program, students are using tools,” said Ms. Burrows, the new teacher of years 1 and 3 of Biomed, “like microscopes and micropipettes, analyzing genetic data, and learning about the hundreds of different careers there are in medicine besides doctors and nurses.”
As Ms. Burrows and Ms. Wilkerson follow in the footsteps of Willow’s previous teachers; they bring their own unique set of goals, academic backgrounds, pursuits in life, and so much more.
Ms. Burrows went to University of California in Santa Cruz, before attending University of California, Irvine to get her Master’s. Currently she is teaching Principles of Biomedical Sciences and Medical Interventions.
“Originally, I went to college with the intention of studying to become a veterinarian, but during college, I discovered that I really love working with students!” Burrows said. “I worked as a biology tutor, and it was one of the most exciting jobs I had as an undergrad. After I graduated, I started working at SDSU and realized I really missed teaching people science. That was when I realized that becoming a science teacher would allow me to continue studying the subject that I love and work with students!”
“I think the best way to describe my teaching style is hands on!” said Burrows who, since realizing her passion for teaching, has been teaching for two years. “When I was in high school, I had the privilege of designing and executing my own experiments. I was able to see the science we were learning about with my own eyes, and that’s what I want for my students,” Burrows continued. “I also hope that my students feel like my teaching is relevant to real world issues and feels important!”
Ms. Wilkerson grew up and completed her education in the sunny state of Alabama. “I am from Mobile,” Ms. Wilkerson, the new year 2 teacher of Biomed, said. “I graduated from Alabama State University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biology.”
Not only is Ms. Wilkerson teaching Human Body Systems, but she is also one of the Integrated Science teachers for the eighth graders. “I have been teaching 13 years.” Ms. Wilkerson said.
“I am adjusting to Willow and New Orleans nicely,” Ms. Wilkerson, who just recently moved to New Orleans, commented, “Everyone has been really kind and helpful.”
Burrows and Wilkerson are both coming into the Willow School community with the same goals for how they plan to affect each and every student they come into contact with.
“My goal for my time here at Willow,” Ms. Wilkerson said, “is to positively impact as many students as possible.”
“The teacher I had in high school completely changed the trajectory of my life in such a positive way,” Ms. Burrow reflects. “They were not just teachers but mentors and advisors, too. I want to give that gift to all of my students!”
