Chartiers Valley instructor named scientific honors society’s Outstanding Teacher

Coming out of college, Jodi King took a job that she thought would relate strongly to the degree she earned in biology.

It didn’t work out that way.

“I called my biology professor from college, crying,” she recalled. “I told him what was going on, and he said, ‘Here, let me put you on the phone with my wife.’ She talked to me for the longest time, and she said, ‘You love science. You love biology. Why don’t you teach it?’”

King took the advice, resumed her studies and landed a position at her alma mater, Chartiers Valley High School, where she has been for 30 years. Drawing on her own experience, she puts an emphasis on providing students with realistic expectations when contemplating careers.

For her efforts, she earned this year’s Outstanding Teacher Award from the Carnegie Mellon Chapter of Sigma Xi, a scientific research honors society.

A statement from Vladyslav Kozii, a Carnegie Mellon University assistant professor and Sigma Xi corresponding secretary, acknowledged “her excellence in teaching, innovative approach to carrying out research in Principles of Biomedical Science class and dedication to work with students.”

King teaches the first and last years of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program at Chartiers Valley.

“A big component of that program is scientific research, but also working together as a team and presenting your data,” she said. “Part of it is getting them career-ready, and part of being career-ready is being able to present yourself well and work with other people well.

“That’s a big component of the course, and I take it very seriously. I really want them to be successful and try to give them the skills to be successful.”

King gives 12th-graders the assignment of choosing a subject of interest for a scientific experiment. After gaining her approval for projects, each student must find at least 30 people to serve as subjects.

Once they conduct the experiments, the students analyze data and discuss their findings in front of groups, usually starting with just their classmates and teacher.

“Students need to present in front of other people besides me, just to get them some more experience and feel more confident in their abilities and skills,” King said.

As such, she often enlists observers from around the high school, including assistant principal Tim Murray, who nominated her for the Sigma Xi honor.

“He’s been invited so many times over the years to a lot of my different activities,” King said. “Having been in the classroom and witnessing their presentations — and talking with the students, themselves — I think that’s where the nomination came from.”

Toward the end of each school year, 2020 and the pandemic not included, King schedules an evening showcase event for her students to share their projects with family members and friends. Recent topics include “The Benefits of Exercise on Mental Health,” “How Sports Help Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities,” “Art Therapy, a New Level of Education” and “Why Feed Cats and Dogs Real Food?”

“I want the kids to feel proud of themselves,” King said. “I want them to work hard at something. I don’t let them take the easy road. I want them to struggle and get through the struggle, and feel that accomplishment and that pride.”