I have been passionate about biological sciences since my early childhood.  As a student at Venetia Valley Elementary School and Miller Creek Middle School, I was fascinated by the experiments we would conduct in science class.  At Terra Linda High School I fell in love with biology and physiology, and went on to study Plant Biology at UC Davis, later working as a viticulturalist for Beringer Vineyards in Napa and Sonoma.  It is my goal to impart that passion to my students now.

I love teaching because it provides an opportunity for me to share my fascination of science and making inquiries about the world around us.  I feel that everyone should be a life-long learner, and I strive to do so by preparing for each lecture and activity, and researching answers to my students’ questions.  I believe that as a teacher, I have the responsibility to stay current with developments relevant to my content areas.  Exciting new discoveries are made constantly in the sciences, and I look forward to sharing those breakthroughs with my students.

It is important that I always strive to improve as an educator.  I will seek to continue my education whenever possible, learning new techniques and strategies to improve my effectiveness as a teacher.  I will thoughtfully consider constructive criticism offered in formal and informal evaluations and integrate them when appropriate.

Today’s classroom is populated with a diverse group of students who are all capable of academic success.  I will use best teaching practices and adapt my curriculum to make the content accessible to a broad spectrum of learners.  Scientific concepts can often be quite abstract.  I will utilize technology and traditional teaching methods to help make these concepts concrete. 

Students will leave my classroom equipped with twenty-first century skills that will enable them to compete in a global workplace.  Whenever possible, I will supply my students with current scientific technology and techniques.  I also think that it is crucial that I create and maintain an atmosphere in the class that is conducive to learning, asking questions, and sharing comments and opinions.  I will challenge my students to develop critical thinking abilities and reward students for demonstrating that ability.  I will design curriculum that encourages creativity and collaboration among peers.

My classroom will be a place where students are treated fairly.  I will make time available during and after class for students to ask questions and discuss relevant classroom situations, and will respond promptly to student phone and email messages.  Students will have a clear and organized syllabus that provides them with a clear understanding of the nature of the course, my expectations, and how I will evaluate their abilities to meet these expectations.  I will be as consistent as possible in my handling of classroom situations. 

-Kent F. Morales

The Morales family at Eagle Lake in Desolation Wilderness.  (Kent, his wife Amanda, and their dog Chief) Below: New arrival, baby Giselle Macaela Morales, born 9/1/12.