Academics

Educator Profiles

Katherine Sallah

Anatomy/Physiology and Physical Science Teacher
HS Academics
Santa Fe, NM

My BA is in Natural Science Teaching from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. I also minored in coaching and geology. My MS is from New Mexico Tech, where I completed the Master Science for Teachers program in 2009. Prior to obtaining my master’s degree, I was in the Peace Corps for three years (1999-2002). I was stationed in Kerr Cherno Omar Village in The Gambia, West Africa, where I taught science in the middle school (grades 7-9). I moved back to Santa Fe and was hired at SFIS in 2002. I actually took over the ninth grade science position from my former eighth grade science teacher that I had at Capshaw Junior High. At SFIS I have been teaching ninth grade physical science since 2002 and took over the anatomy/physiology teaching position in 2008. I also work with Mid School students doing the GUTS (Growing Up Thinking Scientifically) program after school one day a week. In addition, I have a College and Career Ready (CCR) class with freshmen.

As an educator, I believe in all our children, and I have the responsibility to help guide them through high school to help them realize and formulate their passions and what interests them. I want to help them open their minds to all the possibilities in life, especially in science and math. I want them to feel confident that they are all capable to pursue careers in science and math. In class, I do lots of hands-on activities, like labs and field trips. I also take students to Café Scientific once a month so they are exposed to more science ideas. Also, with the national labs so close we have lots of cool science resources in this state. Plus, our state is a geologically rich area and it gives our students the opportunity to learn the science behind their Native knowledge.

Coming out of the Peace Corps, I found that SFIS was the perfect fit for me. It was a nice transition from teaching in West Africa to teaching Native students. I had come from living and breathing a different culture, learning a new language, and I felt this could provide me with more cultural understanding of our Native students. The first Pueblo event my husband and I were invited to was so inviting, and my husband felt like he was back in his village in West Africa.

The most important core value is perseverance. If you can persevere through all the challenges life throws at you then you are accomplished, contributing member of society.

My passion in life is my family – my children, my husband – and my students here. Teaching at SFIS provides me with a new experience every day – the kids bring their passions, ideas and personalities, and we just have fun learning and thinking about science.