Mr. Gregory Tucker 

• • I graduated from Purdue University with a Neurobiology major/Chemistry minor.  While there, I worked in a plant pathology lab where I helped to sequence the gender determining gene for the plant C. richardii.  I have taught A.P. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Zoology, Earth and Environmental science and Physical Science.  I currently teach sophomore Honors Chemistry, A.P. Chemistry and Honors Physics here at Nesbitt Discovery Academy. 

  • Growing up, I played club soccer, representing Indiana through the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and eventually was team captain for Purdue’s club team where we won the national club championship.  Now, I spend my free time hiking with my wife, 2 kids and multiple dogs, kayaking, mountain biking or enjoying the Asheville music scene. 

  • I have traveled with NDA students to Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands.  I also am the advisor for Envirothon, National Honor Society, Deep Space Club, Youth for Environmental Stewardship (YES) and the Volunteer Organization for Youth (VOY) here at NDA.    

Please see the links or speak with me if you are interested in any of these clubs or organizations:

• • Envirothon – training every Monday after school. Local and state competitions in the spring.

  • National Honor Society– You can apply spring of your sophomore year. Requirements to get in are: 3.5 or greater gpa (unweighted), 50+ hours of community service, leadership in the school or community, and no discipline issues.

  • Deep Space Club – We practice with satellite data analysis taken from sensors sent up on tethered balloons and rockets we build ourselves.  We were set to receiving data for analysis from a sensor suite launched from NASA’s Artemis 1 mission (but is currently flying through space past Jupiter, send sending signals!), and we have recently participated in the NASA TechRise challenge. 

  • Youth for Environmental Stewardship (YES) – environmental club who work through the city of Asheville and Asheville Greenworks on various outdoor service projects.

  • Volunteer Organization for Youth (VOY) -  An organization linking NDA students with volunteer needs in the community…we often work with Manna food bank, Hearts with Hands, ABCCM, Project Linus,  and the United Way Homework Diners, etc.