ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 16, 1996 TAG: 9611180030
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
JOHN KOWALSKI taught college for 10 years before coming here from Northern Virginia a decade ago.
John Kowalski never tires of students' questions.
If a student doesn't understand a biological concept or principle, he will explain it five times if necessary, student Lauren Moore said Friday as she worked with several classmates on a lab experiment.
"He's very thorough. He tries to make sure that every student understands whatever we're studying," said Moore, a junior at Cave Spring High.
"Our labs fit in well with each chapter in our book, and he has us do group presentations that help us learn," she said.
"He's one of the best teachers I've ever had," said Paula Katz, a Cave Spring senior. "This is the fourth course I've taken under him in three years, by choice. He's great."
Students in Kowalski's biology class at the Roanoke Governor's School for Science and Technology describe him as a teacher's teacher.
Kowalski, 50, was a college teacher for 10 years before coming to the specialized regional school for science, mathematics and technology a decade ago.
He has been named the state's top biology teacher for 1996 by the Virginia Association of Science Teachers. He is the third faculty member at the school to receive state teacher-of-the-year honors this year.
Earlier, Susan Kennedy, a math teacher, was chosen as the American Association of University Women's teacher of the year. Gwen Sibert, who teaches chemistry, was one of the winners in the teacher-of-the-year competition sponsored by the state Department of Education.
The Governor's School is a regional program for about 200 motivated and intellectually talented students selected by seven school divisions. Students spend half of their day at the school on the Patrick Henry High campus and half at their home high schools.
A graduate of Notre Dame with a doctorate in biology, Kowalski was teaching at George Mason University in Northern Virginia when he saw an advertisement in The Washington Post for a teaching position at the Governor's School.
When he came to Roanoke, Kowalski said he was ready to get away from big cities and college academic settings that feature large classes with more emphasis on research than teaching.
"I always wanted to teach. I wasn't interested in a high-pressure research environment," he said.
Kowalski said he has stayed at the Governor's School because he enjoys teaching high school students.
"There is more interaction with students at this level," he said. "There is more discussion - more sitting at a table and talking with students.
Kowalski has 10 to 18 students in his biology and biotechnology classes at the regional school - not the 200 to 300 that he would have at a university.
He said his students at the Governor's School are just as bright and motivated as college undergraduates, but they are younger and require more guidance and nurturing.
His students said he provides it.
"I like the way he teaches. He makes everything clear, and he uses a variety of approaches and different media," said Chris Pohlad-Thomas, a senior at Franklin County High. "He uses computers and other technology to help explain things."
Richard Shelly, director of the Governor's School, said Kowalski has shown a commitment to hands-on science.
"John's use of instructional technology, including the Internet, makes his class interesting and cutting-edge," Shelly said.
Shelly said Kowalski is a leader in regional and state associations for science teaching and science fairs. He said the biology teacher has provided training in new instructional approaches for science teachers throughout central and Western Virginia.
"He has been a prime mover in providing outreach activities for teachers in our area," Shelly said. "Helping teachers to see science, math and technology teaching in a new light is what we are about."
Shelly said Kowalski has also won funding grants for the school that have expanded academic opportunities for the students.
Teaching at the Governor's School is rewarding because the students are bright and motivated - and there are no discipline problems, Kowalski said.
"This is a wonderful place. It is a good opportunity for students - not just those who are going into math and science careers, but others who are going into other careers such as law," he said.
But teaching at the school is more demanding in some ways than in a regular high school, he said.
"It takes a lot of time preparing for classes because the students are bright and working at a higher level," he said. Because the faculty is small, each teacher also has to assume more administrative responsibilities than at a larger school, he said.
Kowalski's wife has a certified public accounting business. When not working, the couple stay busy with school, soccer games and other activities with their 11-year-old son, he said.
"We love the Roanoke Valley. It is the size of community that we were looking for," he said. "And you don't find many schools and programs in many states like we have here [at the Governor's School]."
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ROGER HART Staff. John Kowalski, a biology teacher atby CNBthe Governor's School, supervises an enzyme lab being conducted by
Cave Spring High School juniors (from left) Alison Elias, Annie Nash
and Lauren Moore. color.