Who is Julie Heintz?
I'm a high school science teacher. I began my teaching career at T.F. North High School in the Chicago suburb of Calumet City. Coincidentally, it's the same high school I attended as well as the same high school where my father and uncle attended AND taught. It must be something in the water. Anyway, after a few years of teaching in my hometown, I applied (on a whim) to teach overseas with the Department of Defense. By some fluke, I was interviewed, then chosen for a post at the newly formed high school in Schweinfurt. I left my home, packed up, and headed to Germany, where I'm currently teaching.
I have been working with computers for a number of years, and am working to integrate technology into my classroom as much as possible. By collaborating with colleagues, I have created many different technology lessons. My favorite is maintaining my class website, so students and parents have access to "anywhere, anytime" learning.
One of the things that inspired me to study science in college was a book called, “50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth.” I became so obsessed with it that I broke the family toilet by dropping a brick into the tank in order to save water. Mom and Dad sat (mostly) silently by as I muddled through experiment after experiment trying to save the planet. Paper towels were replaced with cloth ones. Paper was made by shredding old newspapers. A compost heap (complete with transplanting worms) was made in the family’s small backyard. It was a sign of things to come.
As a professional, my ultimate goal is to have a paperless classroom. It would be a culmination of helping students learn 21st century technology skills as well as a way to help create “green” citizens of the world. Technology skills are needed for nearly every job and making students conscious of the world and their place in it would help make globally aware citizens. Living in Germany has made me aware of another culture and how they are implementing things like recycling programs. Traveling to Costa Rica has allowed me to see how the plants and the trees help to create jobs and careers for people. I love to travel and compare the educational and scientific communities of another culture to my own.
I have been working with computers for a number of years, and am working to integrate technology into my classroom as much as possible. By collaborating with colleagues, I have created many different technology lessons. My favorite is maintaining my class website, so students and parents have access to "anywhere, anytime" learning.
One of the things that inspired me to study science in college was a book called, “50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth.” I became so obsessed with it that I broke the family toilet by dropping a brick into the tank in order to save water. Mom and Dad sat (mostly) silently by as I muddled through experiment after experiment trying to save the planet. Paper towels were replaced with cloth ones. Paper was made by shredding old newspapers. A compost heap (complete with transplanting worms) was made in the family’s small backyard. It was a sign of things to come.
As a professional, my ultimate goal is to have a paperless classroom. It would be a culmination of helping students learn 21st century technology skills as well as a way to help create “green” citizens of the world. Technology skills are needed for nearly every job and making students conscious of the world and their place in it would help make globally aware citizens. Living in Germany has made me aware of another culture and how they are implementing things like recycling programs. Traveling to Costa Rica has allowed me to see how the plants and the trees help to create jobs and careers for people. I love to travel and compare the educational and scientific communities of another culture to my own.