My passion for science education is motivated by love for nature and desire to empower students to become lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and compassionate global citizens through collaborative, hands-on learning founded on respectful student-teacher relationships. My approach to effective teaching starts by developing mutual understanding and trust. Showing students that I truly care by learning about their interests outside of the classroom and checking in with them often helps me create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and confident to take risks without fear of being judged. When teaching science, hands-on, collaborative learning that actively engages students in exploration, problem-solving, and teamwork is essential to understanding. This includes the use of technology, multiple modalities, and differentiated instruction to ensure that diverse learning needs are addressed.