Hello Students and Family,
My name is Stephen Bean, and I am a science teacher. This is my 6th year of teaching here at Olympic Middle School. It will be my goal to ensure that you have fun learning about science. We will use science demonstrations and experimental labs to provided the same high-quality education that follows Washington's Next Generation Science Standards and the high educational expectations of Olympic Middle School.
Science has always been a passion of mine, and I hope that I can share that passion with you. We will be covering many topics in science during this year. I also want you to learn about current events focused around new science discoveries. My background is in environmental chemistry and I worked six years at a wastewater treatment plant before going back to school at University of Washington-Tacoma and getting my Master’s in Education to become a science teacher. Prior to that, I spent many summers teaching children at sleep away camp. While there I taught skills like campfire building, outdoor cooking, fishing, plant identification, archery, and crafts. It was during this time I felt called to help children learn from their surroundings.
I grew up and went to school in Puyallup and have always had a passion for school and teaching that has driven me towards a variety of volunteer opportunities in the Tacoma communities. My undergraduate was spent working towards a bachelor’s degree in science at Western Washington University in Bellingham where I graduated in 2007. During the next ten years, I worked a variety of jobs and even continued my education graduating from Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood in 2012. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to work with you, the students at Olympic Middle School and hope to bring a fun and educationally fulfilling experience to your science class!