After just a semester studying education policy and the politics and philosophy of education, I knew that the classroom was the place for me.”
Andrew’s Story
Andrew Wild grew up loving learning and ideas. “I especially enjoyed the creativity and logical analysis involved in science.” He attended Carleton College, a liberal college in Northfield, Minn., where he pursued his passions of science, music and athletics. As a student, Andrew enjoyed playing the trumpet and football.
During the summers, Andrew conducted research in organic chemistry. He briefly considered attending graduate school in chemistry. “Two overseas teaching experiences–in Nepal and in Thailand–heightened my awareness of international educational inequity and manifestations of power and culture in the classroom.” He also found working with young people to be extremely rewarding.
Andrew enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he studied educational policy and the philosophy of education. He went on to complete his master’s degree and teaching credential program at Stanford University.
In 2009, Andrew won 1st place in the Chemical Education Foundation’s lesson plan competition in the Structure of Matter category, with a lesson entitled “Matter Matters.”
In 2010, he became the grade-level lead teacher for his high school and a science lead teacher for a network of four high schools. The school-level leadership involves observing the other 11th grade teachers, providing feedback for them, and working with the other lead teachers and administrators to develop weekly professional development for the school.