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NAME: Mrs. McCormick

SCHOOL: Indian Creek Middle School

CLASS: 6th Grade Life Science

CONTACT: ltukarski@indiancreekschool.com

T-Mac: The Inside Scoop

I do not remember a time that I was not totally in love with exploring and 
discovering.  When I was a kid, I loved to run around in the grass, collect 
bugs, get dirty, hike, camp, find cool stuff at low tide, taste new foods, 
look closely at interesting things, and ask lots of questions.  Not much has 
changed!

I was born in Seattle, raised in Germany, and have traveled the world 
between here, there, and everywhere.  I hold degrees in Neuroscience and 
Human Physiology from the University of Maryland and, in addition to 
teaching, am currently a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University.  For 
the past twelve years, I have been dedicated to the experiential movement in 
the areas of education and the biological sciences. Interestingly, it was my 
own middle school life science teacher who introduced me to the sciences and 
I credit him for igniting my desire to share a love of the natural world 
with others.

I am so heavily rewarded as an educator, as I learn while I teach.  I 
advocate an inquiry-based teaching style, where character growth, teamwork, 
reflection, and literacy all play active and equal roles in the study of our 
world.  As a scientist, I have come to appreciate the natural world through 
a lens that transforms its reality into a greater sense of purpose.  

My goal as a science teacher is to help my students witness science at work 
in their daily lives by exploring and discovering.  According to Albert 
Einstein, the "joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful 
gift".  I wholeheartedly agree!