Ms. Katie Gray, the new chair of the Science Department. Photo credit: Katie Gray
Every year, the different departments of Watauga High School select new chairs to lead and represent their section of Watauga’s classes. Department chairs are responsible for the inner workings of their subject at the high school, and are often the face of the department as a whole. This year, the science department has nominated Ms. Katie Gray, the environmental science and Genetics & Forensics teacher, as the new department chair.
Doctor Scott Evans, the Biology and Anatomy & Physiology teacher, was the previous chair of the department for two years.
“The chair of the department coordinates teachers when we buy supplies, what committees we serve on, what PLTs [Professional Learning Teams] we participate in, get new classes like Zoology approved, and generally participate in the hiring of new teachers,” Evans explained.
Department chairs also help shape the next generation of teachers at the school.
“Two teachers are leaving the department at the end of this year [Ms. Hale and Mr. Furr], so the science department chair will handle the hiring of their replacements," said Evans. "For this year, when we hired new teachers, both Ms. Gray and I were on the committee, as we already knew she was the perfect candidate for the new department chair.”
Each department has its own approach to nominating a new chair to lead the department, and Watauga’s Science Department has a very straightforward approach to their selection.
“For the Science Department, we decided to spread the leadership out to every member so we can all provide different things for the school,” Evans described the process that the department used to select their new chair.
The process is based on agreement.
“[All the science teachers] are great friends, so we all take turns in running the chair position," said Evans. "We don’t really do elections, because we know who’s best for the job out of us. We all decided together that she was perfect for the position.”
Ms. Gray herself is a favorite of students at Watauga, as she brings an upbeat and fun approach to learning that students from every grade can appreciate. Her selection comes as no great surprise to anyone who’s taken her class. She exudes a spirited passion for science and the environment.
“I am very excited!” Gray reacted when asked how she felt about the chair nomination. “The science department is a great part of Watauga, and I am very honored to accept the position of chair. I want to make sure my department’s concerns and accolades are shared with the school, especially administrators. I love being in on the hiring process, as it gives me a chance to know each candidate before they join the department.”
Ms. Gray’s appointment comes at a time when science education is more important than ever, where students are becoming more aware of global challenges like climate change. In terms of things she wants to accomplish within the department, Ms. Gray is committed to ensuring that Watauga High School's science department remains at the forefront of informing students and giving them opportunities to learn more about how to change the world for the better.
“I would love to see a sustainability class, or a class focused on climate change,” Gray said. “A class about ecology would also be great to spread the department’s reach, and I think students are really interested in finding new ways to be sustainable. My major was ecology and field biology, and I think it’d be fantastic to have a class where we tie earth science and biology together.”
The Watauga High School community welcomes Ms. Gray as the new Chair of the Science Department, and it’s a sign of exciting things to come.