In her youth, Lee Stover and her siblings explored the fields and creeks near their home in rural Southwest Iowa. Their father, an avid outdoorsman, instilled in her a curiosity about the world and a desire to understand how things worked.
“My dad is one of the smartest men I know,” said Stover, Westview High science teacher. “He always knew where to find morel mushrooms and where fish were in the pond, which sparked my curiosity to know everything I could about nature, just like him.”
This curiosity led her to pursue a career teaching environmental science. Stover's focus on hands-on lab work and experiential learning aims to inspire students to appreciate and sustain natural resources.
“What I love most about science is it answers the ‘why,’” said Stover. “I want to understand how things work, how things happen or why they happen. Science provides the answers to all those questions.”
Stover provides students with opportunities through a garden club, and her Advanced Placement students are learning about sustainability through an energy audit of the school building.
“I want kids to be critical thinkers,” said Stover. “I want them to understand science is evidence based.”
To keep her teaching fresh and exciting, Stover invests in her learning. She attended the Educator Academy in the Amazon, a two-week journey through the jungle.
“The first night was exhilarating and terrifying,” said Stover. “The experience opened my eyes to other ecosystems I’ve only read about in books. Now, I can share my perspective with students and find experiences to mimic what I observed.”
As Stover inspires the next generation of scientists, her passion for science becomes not just a subject, but a lifelong love for nature.
Oct. 2024
