From Across the Atlantic, Perkin Brings Passion For Science
By Max Mullen ‘08
News Reporter
Hailing from Manchester, England, Sarah Perkin, a new biology teacher, has already taken her richness of background to the classroom. Graduating from the University of Wales with both a bachelor’s degree and P.H.D in molecular biology, Perkin has a great fascination for the sciences. According to Science Department Head Larry Stowe, “her extensive education in the study of biology” reiterates her qualification for the position.
According to her students, Ms. Perkin is well equipped to explain in depth any subject in Biology, despite the face that this is her first teaching position.
In keeping with the British school system’s pattern of early specialization, which she says “has pros and cons,” she started focusing on Biology at 16. Stowe said, “The fact that she has been able to take all these [biology] classes, compared to majoring in America, where you only get one or two classes like this, is incredible”.
Ms. Perkin has enjoyed her transition to Choate. She appreciates the school’s “close-knit” community and college-like facilities. She observes that “[teachers] expect a lot out of students,” and she certainly enjoys giving her students a challenge.
On switching from the lab to the classroom, Perkin says, “I would never go back.” Already well versed in all the material she will teach, her main goal for the year is improving her day-to-day teaching skills.
Already in the first term of the school year, Perkin has taken advantage of the opportunity to coach and advise. Though she lives on North Main Street, she performs dorm duty once a week in Gables, a sixth form dormitory, and helps coach the girls’ cross-country team as assistant to Jim Davidson. According to Perkin, the team has had a successful start to the season.
In terms of her hobbies, Ms. Perkin’s interest in running, and also biking, extends beyond the Choate fields. She owns four different bicycles and rides them all year round.
Ms. Perkin eventually hopes to teach an elective class at Choate, as she feels she has the necessary background to teach almost any of them. She feels strongly that a solid background in biology is important even for students relatively uninterested in science, and she hopes as well to convince intelligent students unable to decide what they want to do with their careers to pursue science further.
So far Ms. Perkin seems well on her way to accomplishing these goals. Mr. Stowe has “only heard good things” from her students, and Chris Douglas ’08, and student in her Honors Biology course, calls her “a good teacher,” who “knows her stuff.” This certainly bodes well for Perkins in the future.
