Tomales High’s new science teacher: ‘Every student can see themselves as the scientist’

The new life science teacher at Tomales High School wants to encourage each of her students to see themselves as a scientist. “Every unit is based around a real-life issue or phenomenon,” said Allison Sherman, a neurobiologist who most recently taught at Marin’s newly named Archie Williams High School. “My plan for all of my classes, especially my first unit in the ninth-grade classes, is to just go outside and start developing questions, and then try to figure out ways to answer them using the tools that we have.” Ms. Sherman is replacing retired teacher Bernard Gregoris, who mentored her while she was a student teacher at Tomales in 2016. In a marine science class Mr. Gregoris created, Ms. Sherman envisions students solving real issues in their communities, having fun and understanding the process of science. In her A.P. environmental science class, she hopes to work with the other A.P. teachers to develop cross-curricular projects. Last week, Ms. Sherman raised over $2,550 for materials: nitrogen test strips, soil property kits, turtle and bat skeletons, books and various microscope additions. Most of the donations were matched by the UPS Foundation, which is helping fund environmental projects at rural schools. “Some of this stuff is class-specific, but most of it I can use in all the classes,” she said. “I am so excited and, honestly, I’m just so heartened by the community’s generosity.” At Archie Williams, Ms. Sherman developed and updated curriculum for the environmental science, chemistry, biology, physiology and A.P. environmental science classes. Before that, she taught gardening, math and science at Tilden Preparatory School in Albany, worked as a museum teacher at Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, and was a science specialist at Walnut Heights Elementary School. She said West Marin is the perfect combination of cattle ranches, creeks, forests, beaches and tide pools for teaching hands-on science that affects students’ everyday lives. “Especially coming from a research background, I want all the students to see themselves as the scientist,” she said.