School has just started, and many students are adjusting to new teachers and classrooms. Likewise, the new year requires teachers to get accustomed to their new group of students and, in some cases, an unfamiliar school environment entirely. Chamblee High School has several brand new teachers this school year, including Dr. Ezekiel Carpenter-Hyland, who was previously a lab professor at a variety of schools, teaching both graduates and undergraduates.
“I’m a biophysicist, so I study the electrical currents in the brain, and how the brain cells use electrical currents to encode information and process information,” said Dr. Carpenter-Hyland.
Dr. Carpenter-Hyland enjoyed his time teaching in colleges and technical schools but is happy about the shift to high school. This year at CHS, he is teaching biology to mostly 10th-grade students but hopes to teach physics in the future.
“I’ve been in medical research for 30 years, so it’s time for me to do something different,” said Dr. Carpenter-Hyland.
Now, he is offering everything he has learned to his biology students in hopes that he can learn from them too.
“I think I have a lot to give [and] a lot to offer young people, and [students] give me lots of energy, so [they’re] keeping me young too,” said Dr. Carpenter-Hyland. “I’ve always been a student of learning myself.”
Because Chamblee has now exceeded capacity, Dr. Carpenter-Hyland is one of many teachers who are “floating” from classroom to classroom.
“In some ways, it takes some pressure off because I don’t have to set up a classroom… In other ways, it’s a challenge because [I’m] running around. For me, it helps me be very focused and organized,” he said.
Dr. Carpenter-Hyland is taking his experience in professional science labs and bringing it to the students of Chamblee High School, immersing them in the world of science. He remarked on his desire for classroom participation among his students.
“Science is a social activity, and I would like the classroom science to be like that too,” said Dr. Carpenter-Hyland. “I think a lot of times we forget that we can be each other’s best teachers. If [they students are] having engagements with each other, [they’re] going to do just as well helping each other as I can [teaching].”
Dr. Mary Wagner, a science teacher at Chamblee and the science department co-chair, shared her thoughts on Dr. Carpenter-Hyland.
“When I met him, I saw that he was super enthusiastic and excited to work with students and bring his experiences from his research into the classroom, so I was really excited about that,” said Dr. Wagner.
Wagner remarked on his experience in labs, and how helpful that will be in the classroom. She also mentioned how difficult it has been for him as a floater teacher.
“Even periods, second and fourth, no science [classrooms are available]. Science teachers have those off because we all have sixth-period planning,” said Dr. Wagner, “so he doesn’t have another lab space to go into. I think that’s going to be a real challenge as we start getting into doing labs [in class].”
Still, Dr. Wagner said he is staying enthusiastic about science despite technical and floater difficulties. She also mentioned how nice it is to have a teacher who is fresh out of school.
“As teaching changes over the years, having somebody that has recently come through a [teaching] program is nice because they’re just a little more up on current pedagogy and best practices and teaching,” said Dr. Wagner.
With his lust for learning and passion for education, Mr. Carpenter Hyland is committed to making this school year one to remember.
