Top Teachers
Saturday, January 31, 1998
Name: Jean Pounder
Age: 27
Position: St. Francis science teacher
Education: State University of New York at Newpaltz
Pastimes: Crafts, reading
The best part about Jean Pounder's job is watching students discover how electricity works, why volcanoes erupt and other fascinating mysteries of science. Putting the 'wow' into science
"It's kind of like that 'Wow' factor," Pounder said. "'Wow, I didn't know that. Wow, that's how that works?' That's the fun part about teaching science."
She's been teaching general science to seventh- and 10th-graders and Earth science to juniors and seniors at St. Francis School for four years now.
To challenge her students even more, Pounder began exposing them to the Web in August. She was the first teacher at St. Francis to come up with a "Question of the Month" on the World Wide Web.
In October, she asked where the most explosive volcanic eruption took place. The question sent students digging through encyclopedias, the Internet and other resource materials.
The answer is Krakatau Island of Indonesia, she said. The eruption, "which basically blew the island apart" in the 1830s, created a huge tsunami and wiped out surrounding islands. Pounder is also coordinator of the Science Fair and a member of the school's technology committee.
St. Francis Principal Sister Joan of Arc Souza said Pounder's leadership qualities make her an outstanding educator. "She's very much involved with the students, and she creates this 'I can do it' attitude. She's a very 'take charge' kind of person."
Shirley Iida, Star-Bulletin
