Scientific Discourse: A Case Study

As is the case in many of Arkansas’ school districts, science doesn’t always get the emphasis it deserves. Dr. Monica Mobley, a science educator at Southside Charter High School, is a proud, self-proclaimed STEMinist and advocate for science interests of all sorts. Dr. Mobley, whenever I first met her, struck me as a true mad scientist. She seemed totally immersed in the scientific world, and she didn’t focus too much on other’s opinions of her. I learned about five minutes into one of the first AP Biology lectures just how passionate she was about science. Never had I ever imagined that someone could be so enthusiastic about water and its many applications to living organisms. She was practically jumping for joy throughout the whole lecture! I also

My primary career interest at the time being Bioengineering, we had lots to talk about! While she did talk about the wonderful sides of science, she also discussed how it sometimes might not be the most fun or easiest subject. She did assert, however, that a scientific career made for an adventure. I appreciated that she was always honest with me and never sugar coated the pros and cons of a situation or method. She always talked to me as an equal or a colleague, never talking down to me or focusing on my mistakes. I looked up to her as being a brilliant and passionate scientist. I wondered how someone like her could end up teaching at a relatively small school district in rural arkansas. Whenever I asked her one day, she was very happy to talk about her passion for education and teaching those who were willing to learn. She had taught at the college level before, but told me that she preferred high school students because of the impacts that she could make on their lives. At first I regarded this as the cliche response, but as the year went on it became obvious that she really was having an impact on my