Meet Conference Scholar
Karl Topper
Biography
Karl Topper is a math specialist at the Summit School District RE-1 in Frisco, Colo.
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In His Own Words: A Leadership Reflection
What has led to your development as a leader?
Most of my work and teaching experience is within science. I also have helped Native American communities develop science education programs connected to their culture. I see education a bit differently from my colleagues who have their training and experience embedded more strongly within education pedagogy.
As my career developed, I began teaching younger students and then experienced a big "aha" moment. Students in K–6 levels are hungry for science and their teachers lack scientific experiences. As I applied the scientific approach to problem solving with younger students, we discovered that they love science and that science strongly supports multidisciplinary learning.
Currently our science and mathematics abilities are average, at best, when compared to world performance. We are not appropriately challenging young students in scientifically based studies. My science background coupled with diversified teaching experiences sets the stage for me to evolve as a new leader in our educational field.
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What leadership article has inspired you?
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