Hi, I'm Karla!
Meet the Teacher
Hi there! I’m Karla, the face behind Sunrise Science. ✨
From the moment I began my teaching career, I've enjoyed creating resources for my students. I started my TPT store in 2014 and have loved every minute of the journey. It has served as:
- a fantastic creative outlet
- a motivation to continually sharpen my skills in the pedagogy of teaching science
- a way to connect with educators around the globe! 🌎
My Approach to Teaching
I believe that it is always worth the extra effort and time of thinking through unique, meaningful activities in order to make learning interesting, engaging, and accessible! I like to keep my students on their toes, but also to make them feel at home in my classroom. The principles I abide by in creating classroom resources are:
I absolutely love teaching middle school because kids at this age need role models more than ever, and their innate curiosity is still very present.
I have 14 years of teaching experience, and am certified in New Jersey to teach HS Biology, HS Chemistry, and Elementary Education.
I hold an M.S. in Science Education with an emphasis in Chemistry. I've taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science in the U.S., and I have taught Year 7 and 8 students in New Zealand while living abroad with my husband.
Fun Fact: I named my store ‘Sunrise’ because between having long commutes, putting in long hours in my first few years, and generally the crack of dawn homeroom we have in middle school, most days of my teaching career have begun with the sunrise! Can you relate? I love this sacred time of day. ☀️
On a Personal Note
A little more about me
On a personal note, I love the beach, hiking, folk music, red wine, and traveling. I am married to my high school sweetheart, a surfer whose quest for waves has filled my life with adventure. In August 2019, my husband Brian and I welcomed our son, and in April 2022 we welcomed our daughter!
If you strive to be a warm and reliable role model and want to take risks to provide a rigorous and enriching science experience for your students, then you’ve come to the right place! I’m happy to have you here and look forward to furthering ideas together. 🙂
Thanks for getting to know a little bit more about me! You can contact me at: [email protected]
Let's turn the beauty of nature and the universe’s mysteries into classroom magic!
-Karla