Renae Linke, a biology teacher of five years, and currently teaching freshmen. Linke is well known around the building for her teaching, and is known mostly for teaching the freshmen. Linke tries her best to help students and gets excited at the sight of a student coming up to her for help. Linke plans to keep teaching over the years but eventually may open her own farm instead.
Q: How long have you been a biology teacher?
“I have been a biology teacher specifically for five years, but I have been a science teacher for seven. I taught sophomores in my first district I was in, then I moved to a middle school, then another middle school, and now I’m back with high school, and these are freshmen this time.”
Q: What inspired you to be a biology teacher?
“I always loved school, my mom worked in a school, and I really liked my teachers, and I liked science. To me, it was natural.”
Q: Do you enjoy being a biology teacher?
“I really do, it’s fun. I like being able to build connections and relationships with students and get them to see that science is more than just charts and data.”
Q: How long did it take to get your degree?
“So, my undergrad is actually in biology with a minor in biochemistry, and that was four years and a semester in total. So, I did my four years of undergrad, then two years for my masters, and my master’s is in education. That master’s in education made me able to teach, so a total of six years.”
Q: What college did you attend for your degree?
“My undergrad was Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. My graduate was Rockhurst in Kansas City.”
Q: Was teaching biology a long-term dream you had, or did you discover it later?
“Well, I’ve always loved animals and I’ve always loved being outside, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I always liked science-y things, and so it’s kind of just fell into place and I was like ‘oh I like school, animals, and science so let’s find something where I can do all of them together.’”
Q: Do you plan to keep teaching biology?
“Yeah, for now. I hope to be in teaching for another ten to twenty years, but I might always start my own farm.”
Q: Why did you choose to teach biology, like was it a discovered liking/talent?
“Steve Irwin, I watched Steve Irwin a lot as a kid, and knowing I liked animals a lot and that I like being outside, he taught that. So, I was like ‘well, I can’t teach kids animals because that’s not in school, but what’s the next thing I could teach?’
Q: What is your favorite subject to teach your students in biology?
“My favorite subject to teach students would be genetics, the Punnett squares. I think they’re really fun.”
Q: What do you enjoy most out of teaching entirely?
“You guys, as crazy as you can be, you’re kind, and sometimes funny. You all just mean well in a way you can express it best.”