There are a lot of new teachers at Highlands. One of them is the new Physics teacher, Rebecca Eaton. She studied sciences and education in college so that she could go on the path she’s on now.
“I graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a track in biology,” Eaton said.
She got into the sciences at a very early age and knew that she wanted to carry that passion into the education department.
“I really started to love the sciences in seventh grade science, like learning about everything that was when my passion for science really started, at least for biology. Then I realized education was actually for me, and so wanting to do something that I was really passionate about already.”
Eaton didn’t start on the physics path, but with the opportunities that were presented at Highlands, she felt like being a physics teacher was the best option.
“I chose physics mostly because that was the position that was open here, coming from teaching biology and space science.”
Since she didn’t start as a physics major, becoming a teacher in physics is sure to broaden her knowledge of science as a whole.
“I felt like it was a good career path to come to Highlands and then to kind of diversify my certifications a little bit more.”
Eaton came out of college and became a teacher, and since she came out of college, she taught at other schools before coming to Highlands.
“I have always been a teacher, I taught at Scott High School in Kenton County last year. It was a great experience for me to teach at Scott last year. This is my second year as a teacher.”
Because of her experience at other schools, she can take what she already knows and apply it to students at Highlands
“I was able to learn a lot of valuable skills that I am now able to put towards the students at Highlands, such as high expectations.”
Even though Eaton ended up studying science and education in college, she didn’t always feel strongly towards the education department.
“I was between education and engineering. I applied to university for engineering, but during my gap year, I felt a strong pull towards education and decided to switch my majors before classes started.”
She is so connected with Highlands because she has a history with the school and wants to give back to the community.
“I graduated from Highlands, so I know what it means to be like a student here and the expectation and just, like, being part of that vision for the students of high expectations,” said Eaton
Since she went to Highlands, Eaton felt drawn back to the place she graduated from.
“I just want to be a part of that and give back to where I came from.”
Another connection she has with Highlands is that her mom and her sister also work in the same district; her sister actually works at Highlands.
“Once my sister and I both finished college, we just moved back home. She took over the principal secretary position, but my mom has been in the district my entire life, just in different roles, and I think it just shows what Highlands really means to odds for us to all be like, oh, yeah, this is where we want to be.”
Since Eaton works in the same district as her sister and mother, they all gain different insights into various things happening in the district.
“We can kind of like see all of the puzzle pieces coming together for different things that are happening in the school. I can also get any question answered really quickly, so that always helped. And then just being able to get each other’s insight to better do each one of our jobs is really nice.”
Highlands has a lot of new teachers coming in, but it is exciting to have another Eaton in the district.
