Ms. Gail Massey is biology and biotechnology teacher at Coronado High School. Her students look forward to her class each day. “Ms. Massey makes great connections to the subject in order for a better understanding,” said Kyla Orth, a freshmen biology student. Another freshmen student, Meagan Whalen, says “Ms. Massey is an energetic teacher who loves her subject and brings her enthusiasm to class everyday.” Ms. Massey even teaches astrobiology, an enrichment course, after school.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a town called West Memphis, Arkansas. It is on Highway 40 and right across the Mississippi River from Memphis.
What is your Coronado story?
When I got my teaching credential in May 1998, my mother got sick and I went home to take care of her. When I got back to San Diego, there were not any teaching jobs available. Coronado then advertised for a chemistry teacher. I got the job and have been here since.
Tell us about your family.
My husband is a retired Navy Captain. He retired in 2001, just three months before 9/11. We have two daughters: Nova who is 29 and Alana who is 26.
Did you always want to be a teacher?
When I was younger, I loved science and wanted to be a doctor. I gave up going to medical school when I decided to marry my husband. I became a Clinical Laboratory Scientist instead, and worked in a hospital in Charleston, South Carolina.
Where did you attend college/university?
I got my first degree in zoology from Arkansas State University and my CLS degree from Medical University of South Carolina. I am still working on my masters in biology from Point Loma Nazarene University.
What is your favorite thing about teaching at CHS?
I love sharing my passion for science with my students, and every year I learn something new. I love teaching science because you can never know it all — there is always something else to learn and everything can change with one new discovery.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to play with my dog, Rosie, and garden in my little vegetable garden. My husband and I like to hike and have a small telescope. I also like to sew but don’t get to do that much during the school year. I am usually busy grading papers!
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Sophia Zaller
Online Editorial Intern
eCoronado.com
Do you have a story or news event that you would like to share with Coronado? Feel free to email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!
