Lisa Abel
Vance Middle School
Explorers -- Science
423-652-9449
Hi! I'm Lisa Abel, and this is my sixth year here at Vance....well, at
least it's my sixth year teaching here. I attended Vance as a student years
ago. I also graduated from Tennessee High and then from ETSU, majoring in
Environmental Health. After being a stay-at-home mom for years, I went back
to Milligan College and earned my master's degree in education. Before coming
to Vance, I taught 8th grade English, 6th grade social studies and science,
and coached track at Happy Valley Middle School.
My 21-year-old daughter attends Middle Tennessee State University in
Murfreesboro. My husband teaches social studies and is the head football coach
at Happy Valley Middle School. He is also a basketball varsity assistant at
Happy Valley High School. My 18-year-old tortoise-shell cat, Zuni, died this
past spring of kidney failure after living the life of a spoiled queen. Amelie
is our deaf pure-white cat who adopted our family and now rules our home. I
also have numerous gerbils, all of which need a good home other than mine!!
Plus I have my critters at school....Reggae (milk snake) and two pairs of
gerbils, Frank (who is albino) & Lola (and their teenager) and the yet-to-be
named black pair.
My music of choice includes anything by Jimmy Buffett, reggae, U2, alternative
hard rock, and, when I'm in the right mood, Jethro Tull. My favorite colour is
green--just look at my room at school!! My favorite places include Savannah,
Georgia, any beach (especially Tybee Island, GA), and my deck overlooking the
backyard. I also enjoy reading on my husband's boat while he fishes, watching
baseball and hockey (LIVE), watercolour painting, and photography.
I adore traveling!! I've been all over the western U.S. In 1998, I spent time
in England, Ireland, and Wales. I spent a couple of weeks touring France in
the summer of '06 with my daughter. We had a fantastic time, taking nearly
2000 photos between us. The Caribbean, Hawaii, and New Zealand are dream
destinations....
And finally, I love sports, so depending on whichever season it is, I'll be
rooting for the Washington Redskins, UT Lady Vols b-ball, UNC Lady Tarheels
soccer, Nashville Predators hockey (Thanks, Mrs. Carr! It's all your fault!),
Savannah Sand Gnats and Tennessee Smokies minor league baseball, and....I'm a
DIE-HARD, long-suffering, sometimes obnoxious Chicago Cubs fan, so BE
WARNED!!! In 2008, I FINALLY made it to the hallowed ground...Wrigley Field!!!
I even caught a game in the bleacher seats. GO, CUBS, GO!!!
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To behave as compassionate human beings, to become more informed about the
world around us, to realize how science is involved in (almost) every aspect
of our lives, and to have a bit of fun along the way....
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