About Ms. Vanhala

Originally from Big Rapids, MI, I attended Central Michigan University as a double major in both Integrated Sciences and English for Secondary Education on a full-ride academic Centralis Scholarship. In my time at Central, I served as Central's Student Body Vice President through Student Government Association and as the President of the Honors Outreach Network in addition to studying abroad in England, China, and Ghana.

In 2014, I was named a Knowles Teaching Fellow through the Knowles Teacher Initiative, a national foundation focused on providing professional development and funding for the support of young math and science teachers. In 2017, I completed a Masters of Science in Science Education through the University of Michigan - Dearborn with a focus on project-based learning and inquiry. I was named the Michigan Science Teacher of Promise by MSTA in 2020.

For five years, I taught physics, chemistry, and biology at Tecumseh High School while living in the Ann Arbor area. This is my second year teaching 9th grade Environmental Science and Middle College Biology at WTMC, and I am so excited to get to know my students virtually and to use technology to create learning opportunities that are authentic, relevant, and integrated across subjects!

On a personal note, I have two younger brothers, a four-year-old nephew named Marcos, a two-year-old niece named Lucia, and another baby niece Xiomara. My youngest brother is Deaf and uses sign language to communicate. My dad, who was also a teacher for more than 30 years, passed away from cancer in June 2015, and my mom is a test editor who lives in Big Rapids, MI. I enjoy working out in Orange Theory Fitness classes (with masks and social distancing), traveling and hiking when I have the chance, doing house projects for my first house that I just bought in Ypsi, and reading and writing in my free time (Harry Potter is my favorite).