Written, photographed and designed by Lily Van Fleet, THS Media Team
Mr. Weinberger and Mr. Rusco teach biology together at Templeton High School. Mr. Rusco is Mr. Weinberger’s student teacher and they tag team attempting to teach the freshman of Templeton High School a love for biology. Mr. Weinberger has been teaching science at the high school for the last nine years but taught in Thailand for a year and a half prior to coming here. Mr. Rusco, as a student teacher, doesn’t have quite as much experience. He has been in education for about two years.
Even though Mr. Weinberger and Mr. Rusco graduated college at different times, both attended Cal Poly and mentioned the same professor, Emily Taylor, as one of their inspirations. Mr. Weinberger noted that she got him super interested in biology while they would be out hunting for snakes, including rattlesnakes! Mr. Rusco had her for his advisor. However, Mr. Rusco pointed to a different teacher as his biggest inspiration to pursue a career in teaching science - his high school biology teacher. She even brought her placenta in to dissect for the class after having her first child.
Both teachers said that they don’t just want to teach the material to their students but that their goal is to have students see the bigger picture. Mr. Weinberger said “I want to send my students away with a better understanding of the world!”
One thing both teachers noted is an issue in inspiring students to love science is cell phones in the classroom. They said that having your cell phone in the classroom not just took your attention away from the materials you should be learning but also made socializing with your classmates more difficult.
It was clear in talking to Mr. Weinberger and Mr. Rusco that they teach at Templeton High School because they have a deep desire to pass on their love of biology to their students and to help them succeed in learning the material. Mr. Rusco said that, “Working with a student who isn’t getting it and then they get it. A eureka moment,” is one of the most rewarding things about being a teacher for him.
So the next time you are sitting in biology class and want to pull out your phone, think twice about playing BlockBlast and instead focus on being inspired by these dedicated individuals to learn more about biology!