Renee Pascale, a new biology teacher, hopes to use her love for animals and nature in her biology classes and to help students become interested in the world around them.

As an undergrad at the University of Georgia, Pascale did a professional internship at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She also worked at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Tybee Island, several 4-H centers, and the Georgia Aquarium.

Pascale was an alumna of Chamblee’s Class of 2004. She was drawn back to Chamblee when she became a substitute teacher last year and a full time teacher this year.

“Kind of a combination of the tides brought me back,” said Pascale. “There was opportunity. There was excitement because I was starting to look at graduate programs for teaching. So a lot of things just came together at the right time and I’m here on my new adventure.”

Currently, Pascale has a provisional certificate, passed the Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators for science, and a masters in youth development. She is also earning her teaching certificate at Georgia State.

For the upcoming school year, Pascale would advise students not to take grades too seriously and realize there is more to life than school.  

“As a student you have a tendency to tie your worth and value as a human being to the numbers that your teachers give you,” said Pascale. “Don’t do it.”

In her spare time, Pascale takes care of her pet lizard, Janus, who is named after the Roman god of new beginnings, and marks the new beginning when she got a job at the Georgia Aquarium. Pascale also quilts and sews. She enjoys reading, especially Jane Austen books, youth fiction, and historical fiction.