By Cleo Falvey

Helen Yurchenco is a new addition to the OFC science program, teaching biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Originally from New Jersey, she went to college in North Carolina and taught in Vermont before joining what she describes as the “very vibrant school community” here at Brookline High School.

What got you into teaching?

I decided to become a teacher a couple of years ago. I did my master’s degree in forest ecology, and as I was coming out of that, I realized that what I liked best was getting to communicate science. It wasn’t the countless hours out in the field collecting data, it wasn’t the countless hours in the lab sorting through leaflitter, but it was actually communicating the science to other people, whether they were colleagues, or professors, or undergraduates. And I realized that teaching science would be a great way to still be in the science world, but it would be all about communicating the science.

What are you most excited about the BHS community?

I like the fact that I get to work with teachers who have a lot of expertise. I’ve been amazed at what kinds of specialties the various science teachers have.  We have special times every week when we get together to work on projects or develop lesson plans together, and I like that spirit of collaboration. I think that’s really important to have in a school. And it also reflects very well what scientists actually do when they do research-they collaborate with each other.

What are your aspirations for the OFC program? What do you hope to accomplish during your time at BHS?

I would really like for us, especially in the science department, to do some projects together.  The way that our schedule is set up is really conducive to doing projects. Longer term projects, longer term labs, something we can really sink our teeth into. And the fact that we as teachers really get to know the students well, because we spend a lot of time with them, also will help in getting these projects off the ground.

What are some of your ideas for these projects?

I’d like to conduct some biodiversity indices of the surrounding environments.

What was something you would like everyone to learn before they graduate?

I’d like them to know that they should always be asking questions. They should be thinking critically and be actually skeptical, not just take everything at face value but to really consider the possibilities.  Especially the way that we get information nowadays, you really need to find out who’s saying this, why are they saying this, is this objective or subjective.  I think that’s going to be one of the most critical 21st century skills.

Do you have any hobbies, or interests, that you think you’d like people to know?

I am a fiddle player.

Where did you learn?

I started about 10 years ago, so I’ve just been playing on my own. Irish music, bluegrass.

Cleo Falvey can be contacted at [email protected]