A Digital Publication by York Suburban School District
March 2019
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In This Edition The Chemistry of an Educator
One Teacher’s Impact In and Out of the Classroom
In Case You Missed It... A Social Media Summary
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The
Chemistry of an Educator How one York Suburban teacher is making her mark in the classroom and garnering national attention outside of it. By Nick Staab
The year was 1995 and teacher Leigh Foy, in the midst of her first full-time teaching job, was monitoring students as they boarded buses at George Washington Junior High School in Ohio. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a male student standing with a group of friends and holding a small object. It appeared to be a comb, an item that had been banned by the school’s principal due to its role in recent behavioral issues. “I was walking around, and I saw this little thing out of my peripheral vision. I walked over to the guys, and I put my hand out,” said Foy, describing her confiscation attempt. Much to her surprise, the student placed a switchblade in her palm. “My knees just turned to jello. That was my baptism by fire.” Leigh Foy, a chemistry
With the benefit of time she can laugh about and biology teacher at the incident, but it would be understandYork Suburban High School, has been with able how a teacher, new to the profession, the district since may contemplate a different career after August 2003. such an encounter. However, Leigh Foy, now a biology and chemistry teacher at York Suburban High School, didn’t let an unsavory moment dampen her enthusiasm for working with students. Since that day, she has made waves within the educational
community during her 25-year teaching career that has spanned multiple states and included time in middle school, high school, and postsecondary classrooms. She has won national awards, contributed to bestselling books, and helped develop curriculum used from coast to coast. And, somewhere in the middle of it all, she married her husband of 25 years, Gregory Foy, raised three York Suburban graduates (Amie Leigh, Class of 1998; Kelsey, Class of 2005; Brendan, Class of 2007), and celebrated the births of her two grandchildren, Elijah and Nolan. Foy’s success, both professional and personal, comes in part from a deep-seated passion for teaching her subject Back row (L to R): Randy Reece, son-in-law; Phil of choice ﹘ science. Dougherty, son-in-law; Brendan Moore, son; Dr. Greg Foy, husband. Front row (L to R): Amie Leigh Her passion is best deReece, daughter; Elijah, grandson; Kelsey Doughscribed by those she has erty, daughter; Nolan, grandson; Leigh Foy. impacted throughout her time with York Suburban School District. “Mrs. Foy’s enthusiasm is contagious,” said Thomas Platts (YSSD Class of 2017), who took a chemistry class taught by Foy. “She is so passionate about helping her students succeed.”
Peyton Stuart (YSSD Class of 2018) reinforced Platts’ sentiments. “Her fun-loving spirit carried the class through activities. As one of the best teachers I’ve had, she consistently engaged the class and was eager to help everyone.” Current junior, Maddie Perring, added that the challenges of the subject matter are often mitigated by Foy’s infectious personality. “My favorite thing...is her enthusiasm. She is always pushing us to try our best and is always willing to help us if we need her. She is extremely passionate, and that makes her stand out.” Foy has also found ways to extend her influence beyond the classroom. Brooke Sargen, a junior taking AP Biology, has detected simple life lessons tucked between Foy’s broader teaching points. “During one of the first days of class, she told us the importance of thank you cards and simple gestures. I feel that this will stick with me forever.” Perhaps even more impressive is Foy’s ability to connect with her co-workers. According to fellow high school teacher, Leslie Gentzyel, Foy has helped shape her positively as a person. “She has provided so much support over the last fifteen years. I wouldn’t be the person, mother, or teacher I am today without her support and guidance.” This type of aptitude for teaching, the type that can help
someone overcome an alarming run-in with a weapon and positively affect students and co-workers both inside and outside the classroom, doesn’t develop overnight. Foy is no exception. Her journey is one with many stops and unique experiences. At first, becoming a teacher was not one of her goals ﹘ or even on her radar. Foy, born Rachel Leigh Hill, first worked at a small camera shop during her teenage years in her hometown of Oxford, Ohio. The town only had five stop lights, and Foy yearned to see more. Her goal at the time was to travel, which is an activity she still enjoys. “I worked behind the counter, and I saved up money to go on “I remember a trip to Europe with my best friend. calling my mom This was before cell phones. My parents not happy, but we survived [the and sobbing and were trip]. That was a growing experience saying, ‘I’m not for sure.”
smart enough.’”
It wasn’t until she encountered a memorable biology teacher while enrolled at Talawanda High School that Foy began to develop a positive relationship with the sciences. “I felt like I was going to story time,” she said of her experience in Mr. Uhl’s 10th-grade class. That initial spark was enough for her to develop an intense interest in all things science. The rest of her high school science classes went well but despite being an honors student, Foy felt “woefully underprepared”
for the start of her college career. It quickly became apparent during her first year at Texas A&M University that high school had not been an appropriate challenge. “My high school’s academics weren’t what we have at Suburban. When I took my first chemistry class [in college], I got a D on my first test. I remember calling my mom and sobbing and saying, ‘I’m not smart enough.’” Foy didn’t allow one bad experience to throw her off course. Instead, she committed herself to pursuing her budding interest with renewed vigor, but it wasn’t easy. “I pulled myself up by the bootstraps. I had to teach myself chemistry. I had to work hard to learn the stuff that I did.” By the end of that first chemistry class, Foy raised her grade to an A and ultimately graduated cum laude from Texas A&M. Foy’s recovery from an inauspicious postsecondary beginning eventually culminated in a teaching assistant position as a graduate student at Miami University. This is where she discovered her second passion ﹘ teaching. According to Foy, “I started teaching, and I found out that I really liked it.” While becoming a teaching assistant may have helped her to test a potential career path, greater inspiration was found much closer to home. In fact, it was literally found at home. “My dad is a beloved college professor, so I probably have [teaching] in my genes,” explained Foy. Her father,
Dr. Johnny F. Hill, is a former mathematics professor at Miami University and the director of McGuffey Laboratory School, a subsidiary of the university. As fate would have it, Foy had her dad as a teacher while she was an elementary student at McGuffey. It was with a special twinkle in her eyes that Foy described this time in her life. “I got to see my dad in action, and my dad was amazing. My dad is absolutely my role model to this day.” After graduating college, Foy embarked on a teaching odyssey armed with a genetic predisposition for the profession, her own positive experiences as a teaching assistant, and unbridled ambition. Her journey involved stops at Washington Technical College in Ohio, West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University), the aforementioned George Washington Junior High School, York Country Day School, She was on the front lines, York College of Pennsylvania, and eventumaking the sciences more ally York Suburban digestible and collaborative High School.
for students and teachers alike.
While each stop was indelible, it wasn’t until she reached York Suburban High School that Foy started to make waves nationally for her work. Among her many accomplishments, three clearly get her the most excited: her involvement on the editorial
board of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), her influence on national climate change curriculum, and one special trip to Paris. The learning model POGIL was started over ten years ago by chemistry professors at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “They basically threw out the [traditional] lecture and developed this way of teaching that uses cooperative groups. You can’t just put kids together and say, ‘Work as a team.’ The process-oriented part teaches the teacher how to get the kids to have roles,” said Foy. Essentially the goal was to turn the teacher into a facilitator instead of a lecturer. At the time, this pedagogy was designed for colleges. There was nothing geared toward high school students. Through a series of fortunate connections, Foy met the future Editor-in-Chief of the High School POGIL Initiative (HSPI), Laura Trout. Soon Foy became a part of HSPI as an Associate Editor and helped produce four biology and chemistry activity books over the four-year life of the project. She was on the front lines, making the sciences more digestible and collaborative for students and teachers alike. Since those early days, HSPI has broadened into an international program that has helped teachers more effectively engage students in the classroom. Foy has traveled extensively to assist
with POGIL workshops, including to places like New Zealand, Colorado, and the University of Minnesota. Foy’s other main focus is developing ways to better educate students on global climate change. This stems from her discovery that there were not many resources available to teachers who wanted to integrate climate change into their lessons. “I began looking for [climate change] material so I could incorporate real world problems into my chemistry and biology courses, and there really weren’t a lot.” She took matters into her own hands and co-founded eCLEAR, a climate literacy academy with the goal of eCLEAR founders Keith Peterman, providing educational resources and Greg Foy, and Leigh Foy present at workshops to high school teachers. the national convention of the AmeriNow, equipped with a defined miscan Chemical Society in Boston, MA. sion, tailored educational resources for students, and teacher training workshops, she is slowly revamping how climate change is discussed in the classroom. Her work on climate change education came full circle when she had the opportunity to attend a 2015 United Nations climate change conference in Paris as a member of the event’s media
contingent. It was during this conference ﹘ officially called the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP21 for short ﹘ that the Paris Agreement, a global agreement on the reduction of climate change, was negotiated. This event was to Foy what the Super Bowl is to football fans, and her press pass gave her a front row seat. “That was one of the top ten moments of my life. We actually took part in a peaceful [climate change] demonstration. There were people from all over the world that Foy snaps a selfie during a peaceful climate change came to this. I got a protest which coincided with COP21 in Paris. press pass to go in. I was actually writing, and I got to be where all the press was. It was crazy that I’m this little high school teacher and I’m there. It was really, really special,” said Foy. Her published research further cements her legacy as a leader in the climate change curriculum arena. One book in which her work is featured, titled “Climate Change Literacy and Education: The Science and Perspectives from the Global State,” has two volumes with a third on the way. Foy co-wrote a chapter
with her husband, an accomplished scientist in his own right, and uses it to express her view of climate change education and how it can be improved. Her tireless efforts to educate others about climate change have been so successful that she recently received the 2019 ACS-CEI Award for Incorporating Sustainability into Chemistry Education, an honor that is sponsored by the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Environmental Improvement. As the world’s largest scientific society, the American Chemical Society’s recognition is one of the ultimate accomplishments in the career of a lifelong scientist. Foy has seemingly achieved it all during her illustrious career as a teacher, professor, and science advocate. Yet, she is still motivated to do more. So, what keeps her going? “Keeping it fresh for me is when I’m growing and learning because that makes me want to share what I’m learning with my kids. The experiences that I’ve had intellectually and professionally keep it fresh for me.” One would think that Foy’s future goals are aimed at exceeding her already lofty accomplishments. Instead, her mind immediately goes to her classroom at York Suburban High School. “I would like to continue trying to do my best to implement the next generation science standards into my classroom. I think I can do that better...taking big ideas and trying to make better
connections about how they affect students. That is really hard to do.” It’s a good thing that Foy remains so committed to her classroom. Her colleagues at York Suburban recognize the tremendous impact that she’s had on the high school, and they don’t want her to leave anytime soon. “I am incredibly fortunate to work with Mrs. Foy. It is because of teachers like her that YSHS is the special place that it is,” said Dr. Brian Ellis, the principal of York Suburban High School. Erika Hallman, a fellow science teacher at the high school, added, “I have never met a person who has more empathy, enthusiasm or completely genuine compassion for people than Mrs. Foy. She passionately and exhaustively continues to innovate her classroom. She does not possess the ability to settle for what is easy or simple. She works, she innovates, and she reimagines activities to provide the absolute best lessons for her students.” Hallman echoed the thoughts and feelings of just about everyone who knows Foy. Needless to say, the future is bright for the symbiotic relationship that exists between Foy, York Suburban School District, and the students and teachers she inspires daily. Use these links for more information about the following topics: POGIL, eCLEAR, and COP21.
In Case You Missed It... York Suburban High School @YorkSuburbanHS • Mar 18 Congratulations to the Quiz Bowl team of Sam Garncarz, Caleb West, Caroline Liu, and Drew Thompson on their first place win at the LIU regional competition today! They will compete at the state finals on April 26th at the capitol in Harrisburg. #YSProud #QuizBowlChamps
York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Mar 13 All of York Suburban’s school buildings have joined Twitter! Visit these accounts for building-specific updates: @YorkshireElem @ValViewElem @EastYorkElem @RockElementary @YorkSuburbanMS @YorkSuburbanHS For simultaneous access to all accounts, visit: https://www.yssd.org/whats-new/
In Case You Missed It... York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Mar 4 Chris Weakland, the @Whitsons Food Service Manager who oversees the district’s food operations, was named a #PASchoolBreakfastHero by the @nokidhungry campaign. He tirelessly works to ensure that our students have proper nutrition, and we’re excited that he’s been recognized!
York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 27 Yorkshire Elementary students are celebrating #ReadAcrossAmericaWeek. In honor of the book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” students wore clothes depicting what they want to be in the future. Sergeant Wilbur from @SpringettsPD saw Trenten, a 1st grader, dressed as a police officer!
In Case You Missed It... York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 25 Congratulations to all of the donors and participants who made this year’s Mini-THON such a success! An unbelievable $91,020.19 was raised to benefit children with cancer. The district is beyond proud of @YSHSMiniTHON’s tireless efforts! #YSProud
YS Athletics @YSAthletics • Feb 6 YS is ranked as the 19th Best Public School in Pennsylvania for Athletics! #YSProud of our Student-Athletes & Coaches for your constant commitment to success & doing things right! Thankful for the support continually displayed by the YS Staff & Community!
In Case You Missed It... York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Jan 28 The 8th Battle of the Buildings was a huge success. Nearly $5,000 was raised for York Suburban Dollars for Scholars! Thank you to everyone who was involved with this event, and congratulations to the champions, the junior class of 2020. Photos are courtesy of @DrWilliamsYSSD.
York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Jan 22 Congrats to these @YorkSuburbanHS students who won regional Scholastic Awards for their artistic talents: Noah Chojnacki, Cara Fielding, Olivia Gibson, Gabrielle Kimball, Ellen Korver, Elise Mears, Jake Michalski, P.J. Penson, Mary Kate Smith, and Dylan Zeiders. Job well done!
Contributors Nick Staab
Coordinator of Transportation & Communications
Jackie Chicalese Administrative Assistant
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