About Ms. DeVries

NAME: Full name: Johanna Lu DeVries

SCHOOL: Escuela Campo Alegre,Las Mercedes, Caracas, Venezuela

CLASSES: IB Biology SL and HL, grades 11 & 12; Grade 10 Science

Home phone: 993-5541: Johanna_DeVries@eca.com.ve Home: jodevries@hotmail.com


About The Teacher

My permanent home is Livingston, Montana, USA.  My husband is an 
international development consultant and travels almost continuously between 
August and June each year; so that I can live in Caracas. 

We have 3 children who grew up in Asia and Africa. Our oldest is a fireman-
paramedic in Livingston, MT. Our second son is in his last year at University 
of Montana-Dillon studying literature & creative writing, and our 
daughter lives & works in Tucson, Arizona; until she returns to grad school.

I have a B.S. in Agriculture from Ohio State University, and an M.S in 
Agriculture Extension Education from Michigan State University.  
I am certified as a HS teacher in Montana (Agriculture)& Michigan (all 
sciences grades 6-12).

Expatriate Experience:
-2 years in Liberia as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching Animal Husbandry 
courses in a vocational high school and Kindergarten classes;
-5 years at AIS/Egypt in Cairo, Egypt teaching courses in Biology & IB SL 
Biology, Physical Science, Life Science and Science in Society;
-3 years at IST in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania teaching IGCSE Combined & 
Coordinated Sciences and IB Higher Level Biology;
-3 years at AIS/Dhaka, Bangladesh in Grade 7 and 8 Integrated 
Science;
-5 years in Caracas at ECA. 
-I have also lived 2 years in Liberia where I was a stay at home mom; &  
2 years in Sudan, where I home-schooled my boys; & 6 months in Mauretania.


My Mission:

In IB Biology, the primary focus is to learn the internationally recognized 
syllabus content while practicing & developing problem-solving, critical 
thinking, and laboratory process skills. In grade 10, my mission is to 
prepare students in basic biological concepts while helping them develop 
their critical thinking, problem-solving, and experimental skills so that 
they may succeed in whatever science course they take in the future.

My personal objectives for each student include:
-increasing their ability to make connections between & evaluate complicated 
global issues facing the world today, 
-developing their ability and desire to be an independent learner,
-helping them learn organizational/study tools for successful test taking,
-aiding them to successfully manage long-term projects that will prepare 
them for similar projects undertaken in college, 
-the hope that they absorb some of my excitement for the field of biology, 
-the hope that enjoy our time together, and are motivated to do the best they 
can in their studies.