SUBMITTED TO CONNECT-BRIDGEPORT

 

Pipelines stream down the hills of our state, and the Alma Mater every Mountaineer looks up to, continues to advertise its extensively expanding engineering program, filling careers that will revive the retired chemical factories that swept the Kanawha Valley, this spike in interest of chemistry fundamentals has become much more noticeable.

 

This change can easily be described as a reaction to high quality science and mathematics curriculum being in place across this state, and Bridgeport is no exception. For sixteen years, Mrs. Cheryl McCarthy has guided the chemistry department for some time, and anyone who has had her will tell you that the skills her classes offer are immense, “I feel like I learned more problem-solving skills with more than just chemistry, and it definitely made me a better student because I had to study more. I feel like I got a lot out of taking the class,” said BHS senior, Claire Lohmann. 

               

Anyone who can recall high school chemistry, will doubtfully recollect their time in it as a cake walk, “I really feel that my kids are doing college level work, and I really hope for them to get some form of credit for it. This was what pushed me to start the AP chemistry program about ten years ago. This was something that the administration really started pushing for, and I think, at the time, it looked like a project we would really have success with,” said McCarthy.

               

Success seemed to be achieved over the years, “In an Advanced Placement class we really shoot to get a passing grade, so a three, four, or five out of five, on the final exam, we had been hovering around one-hundred percent pass rates for some time, but the recent setback we are facing is that because our pass rates are so high, colleges are beginning to raise the bar. WVU, which is the main college choice of many of my students, would accept a three on the exam for a set amount of college credit hours, now the only accept a four and above, as do many other colleges across the country. This setback is only making us work harder,” continued McCarthy.

               

The involvement of parents and community leaders in the area seem to have had a positive impact on the learning environment, “I really feel blessed and a lot of relief to work with groups of kids that have such a strong academic background, allowing them to have a strong work ethic and to be successful. It is a great feeling to work with students and guide them as their skills improve, push through more difficult labs, and develop new strategies that help them learn. The best part though is seeing my students go on to be successful. Even the kids that struggle, they are willing to learn and do not give up, which makes this job so much easier,” said McCarthy.

               

This is a true demonstration of how a strong teacher makes all the difference in the world, from starting a challenging college level program to instilling nuanced learning strategies, McCarthy has put out a lot for her community.

 

Editor’s Note:Vincent Pinti is a student in Mr. Brad Bonnenberger’s journalism class. These stories are submitted to, and not assigned by, Connect-Bridgeport for publication. Photos by photos are by Elijah Kintz.