After 24 years of teaching at Middleton High school (MHS), beloved science teacher Mary Blackmore is retiring. To voice our appreciation for this phenomenal teacher, we’ve compiled information from student interviews and Blackmore herself to create a thank you.
Blackmore was first inspired to become a teacher when she was in college planning to go to medical school. There, she became the teaching aide for biology and chemistry classes. After meeting several exemplary instructors, she decided that teaching was the field that she wanted to pursue.
“I liked being able to explain something and have the students be like, ‘oh, I get it,’” Blackmore said.
According to Blackmore, the most memorable moments of her teaching career are whatever activities that give kids “the ‘wow’ factor [you feel] when you’re doing stuff in science.”
Blackmore said that the experiences that stuck with her the most were the pig dissection that occurs every year for AP Biology. She also recalled the experiments that she used to conduct in chemistry with solid sodium and potassium, which explode in contact with water.
When we asked Blackmore what she will miss the most about teaching, she replied with “the people; my students,” and said that it will “be hard not waking up every day and going in to talk and work with [the biology team]” when she retires.
These feelings are certainly reflected in the student body, where we interviewed several of Blackmore’s pupils. When asked to consider their past classes with Blackmore, they expressed their appreciation for her.
“Mrs. Blackmore explains things very well and caters to all different learning styles,” said sophomore AP Biology student Nithya Allu. “She is always understanding when we [talk] to her and makes the classes something to look forward to.”
Allu was inspired by Blackmore to pursue more opportunities in the field of biology and was also motivated to “find as much joy in life as she does.”
Michelle Lee, also a sophomore in AP Biology, expressed how. Blackmore’s classes have “a mix of fun hands-on activities which is balanced with informative lectures,” making them engaging and interesting.
Sophomore Addie Dorn, who Blackmore taught in freshman biology, enjoyed how she could “ask her questions about biology or science in general and she would take time to fully explain the answers,” stating that she thinks Blackmore is “overall… an amazing teacher.”
Jasmine Shaffar, a junior Blackmore taught in AP Biology, loved the way that she was engaging and fun during both lectures and labs.
“She has made me more interested in biology, which is now what I want to study in college,” Shaffar said. “[Mrs. Blackmore] is a really good teacher, and Middleton will miss her greatly.”
Blackmore wants her students to take away the lesson that “nothing that we know is for certain, and you should always be… reasonably accepting of new ideas.”
She connected this idea back to biology, stating that “the whole concept of evolution… is something that… you can apply [to] the concept of life.” When everything is always changing in your life, it is important for people to keep an open mind and realize that there is no end to knowledge.
“I can always learn every day, there’s [always] something more to learn,” Blackmore said.
While reflecting on her experience, Blackmore acknowledged her years as a teacher, saying that “boy, it’s been a lot of fun. I’m really gonna miss it… It’s been a great career.”
We will miss you as well, Blackmore. Thank you for being such an inspiring teacher and we wish you all the best.
