The Cat’s Eye View welcomes our newest science teacher, Ms. Chelsea Palacios, to Becton Regional High School!
Ms. Palacios earned her Bachelor of Science from Montclair State University, and later, her Masters in Education at Saint Peter’s University, thus equipping her with the skills to engage and inspire students at Becton. This marks her second year of teaching science as prior to joining Becton, she taught AP Environmental Science and Biology at Washington Park High School in Newark, NJ. Ms. Palacios shares, “I wanted to be a teacher because I believed in the transformative power of education. I want to inspire students to think critically, explore their interests, and develop a lifelong love of learning.”
As a kid, Ms. Palacios always hoped to become a teacher. She had a great fascination with the habitat of the classroom and the learning process. Teaching has allowed her to share her passion for learning with students every day. “It is fulfilling to create a space where they can explore, ask questions and grow,” attests Ms. Palacios. Similarly, she took on the role of a science teacher because she has always been amazed and wondrous about how the world works and functions. Her curiosity about the sciences sparked the desire to share her interests with others.
Other than teaching science, Ms. Palacios has another natural talent – speaking Spanish! She believes that being bilingual has given her opportunities to understand perspectives and learn of new experiences.
As for her new home– she loves it! As she stated, “Becton’s culture is incredibly positive and supportive!” Ms. Palacios attests that the teachers here are welcoming and willing to help one another, creating a collaborative environment. In conjunction, she finds students bring enthusiasm to the classroom, making teaching an extremely rewarding experience.
Ms. Palacios is constantly aiming to instill a sense of responsibility in the classroom, encouraging her students to consider their actions. She also hopes that her students will use their class time to leave a positive impact on the ecosystem. Her goals do not stop at her students, as she hopes to improve her teaching strategies by exploring some new technology– striving to make her lessons more fun and engaging for the students.
Also aiming to create a supportive and inclusive space, Ms. Palacios wants every student to feel valued and empowered to engage with the material. She seeks to connect lessons to current environmental issues or biological phenomena, highlighting the relevance of what students are learning and how it applies to their everyday lives.
Becton welcomes our new teacher, Ms. Chelsea Palacios, to the team—she’s ready to help grow students’ love for environmental science!
