Story: Lisa Sollie
Growing up in a family rooted in science, Demopolis native Anna Kate Golden initially planned to become a nurse鈥攂ut ultimately became the first in her family to pursue a career in education.
This fall, Golden will begin teaching seventh and eighth grade science at Demopolis Middle School, becoming the first graduate of the baby直播鈥檚 UWA-Teach program. Funded by a $3 million grant from the as part of the STEM Major Teacher Recruitment Initiative, UWA-Teach provides a streamlined, flexible path to teacher certification for STEM majors.
A collaboration between UWA鈥檚 College of Education and the College of Natural Science and Mathematics, the program allows students in qualifying STEM degree programs to earn a minor in STEM education. Golden graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology and completed all licensure requirements, including the Educative Performance Assessment (edTPA) and the Praxis content exam.
Golden first considered teaching at the beginning of her junior year.
鈥淚 looked into changing my major, but I was crushed when I realized switching to education would add three more years to my degree,鈥� she explains.
That鈥檚 when Hannah Millwood, master teacher for UWA-Teach, introduced Golden to the UWA-Teach program.
鈥淲hen Mrs. Millwood told me that through UWA-Teach I could earn a minor in STEM education and still graduate on time,鈥� Golden recalls, 鈥淚 was all in.鈥�
鈥淲hen I met Anna Kate, I saw her passion for science, and it reminded me of myself,鈥� Millwood says. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly proud of how hard she worked, especially as she navigated a brand-new program. Her students will be lucky to have her.鈥�
Over the past two years, Golden immersed herself in learning how to teach a subject she already loved. This past spring, she completed her internship in seventh-grade science at Demopolis Middle School, working under mentor teacher Beth Lindsay.
鈥淚 really enjoyed getting to share my passion for science with my students,鈥� Golden says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun subject to teach because at that age they鈥檙e naturally curious and want to know how things work.鈥�
Golden is especially excited to return to the same school, and students, this fall.
鈥淚鈥檒l get to teach my former seventh graders in eighth-grade physical science, and I鈥檒l teach life science to a new group of seventh graders. I can鈥檛 wait!鈥�
While several factors influenced her decision to teach, Golden credits her high school science teachers at Demopolis High School, especially her biology and anatomy teacher, as her biggest inspiration.
“Mr. Parten is the main reason I鈥檓 teaching science now.鈥�
A 2011 alumnus of UWA, Dylan Parten鈥檚 enthusiasm and ability to connect science to the real world changed the course of Golden鈥檚 life.
It鈥檚 not lost on her that she now has the chance to help her own students see the importance of science in their everyday lives.
Golden brings that vision into her classroom, using what she learned at UWA, including trips to the Dauphin Island Seal Lab and other field experiences around the state, to ignite her student鈥檚 curiosity.
鈥淯p until now, they haven鈥檛 really been exposed to science in this way,鈥� she notes.
One highlight of her internship was a plant dissection during a lesson on plant reproduction.
鈥淭he students loved it,鈥� she says.
She looks forward to doing more hands-on activities this fall. One topic she can鈥檛 wait to teach is population dynamics, how plants and animals interact in an ecosystem.
鈥淚n one of my college classes, we played a card game where we were all 鈥榩anthers,鈥� and we each had to grab a 鈥榖unny鈥� or another animal to eat before someone else did,鈥� she explains. 鈥淗aving my students up and moving, engaging with the material, helps them understand the concept better. It beats lecturing for an hour, and I believe they鈥檒l retain the information more effectively too.鈥�
Golden says student-centered learning, like the card game she plans to use, is a growing trend in STEM education. Rather than acting as the sole source of information, teachers now engage students as active participants.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we want. We want to move away from worksheets and packets. This generation is so used to communicating through phones, they often don鈥檛 know how to talk with or work together in groups.鈥�
During her internship, Golden encouraged collaboration and inquiry.
鈥淓very time I taught, I鈥檇 say something like, 鈥業 forgot what this is, can you explain it?鈥� Or I鈥檇 have them break into groups to discuss and then share their thoughts with the class.鈥�
Even if her students don鈥檛 pursue science beyond high school, she hopes they leave her class with a deeper appreciation for it.
鈥淚 want my students to talk more, help shape the dialogue, and share their opinions,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to be the teacher who really makes a difference, like my own high school and college professors did for me.鈥�
That mission is at the heart of UWA-Teach.
鈥淭heir philosophy is, 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 want to be the normal teacher; you want to be the teacher that stands out,鈥欌�� Golden says.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I want to do. I want to make connections, build rapport with my students, show them things they鈥檝e never seen before鈥攁nd make my classes not just fun, but impactful. I feel so blessed to be doing this at my alma mater. It’s a place that shaped me, so being able to give back here makes it even more special.”
About UWA-Teach
UWA-Teach is also available to individuals who already hold a degree in mathematics or science and are seeking a master鈥檚 degree alongside a teaching certificate. This alternative route to certification offers a faster, more streamlined path compared to traditional Alternative-A teacher certification programs.