Mr. Jeffrey D. Mann was born and raised in the state of Maine. He attended the University of Maine for his BA and Bard College for his MA. He currently resides in Kingston, New York and teaches Biology, Physics, Environmental Science, and Science Research here at Margaretville Central School. Mr. Mann has traveled across the globe and worked (by his count) around 30 different jobs.
A few questions to provide a better picture of MCS Science Research's fearless leader (student observations on his answers are italicized):
Q: What is your approach to motivating students?
A: I don't look at my job as motivating students; I look at it as helping students find their own motivation, and then getting out of their way. I occasionally step in to offer encouragement or to shake them out of a stall.
As a student, I find this to be mostly accurate. "Shake" is an apropos term.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a teacher?
A: I get to learn every single day, and I get to share my excitement with my students.
Mr. Mann's excitement is often palpable, especially when he is talking about fungi.
Q: What parts of science excite you the most?
A: I'm intensely curious, so science offers a reasonable way to sate my curiosity and to explore ideas, concepts, and thoughts with people who are far smarter than I am.
This is essentially the worldview impressed upon us as Science Research students.
Q: What, in your opinion, lies in the future of scientific research?
A: Everything. For me, science is less about discovery than learning what questions to ask next.
According to Mr. Mann, the "how" of everything is within the realm of scientific discovery.
Q: If you could study under one historical innovator, who would it be?
A: Nikola Tesla.
No hesitation given for the choice; Tesla was notoriously eccentric, so I believe the two of them might get along.
Q: Why Tesla?
A: There is so much we don't know about what Tesla figured out, and there's so much that we don't know if it was either genius or insanity, and where one left and the other began.
This is 100% accurate based on everything Mr. Mann has taught us about Tesla.
Q: What, in your opinion, is the most valuable thing that Science Research imparts to students?
A: Self-motivated curiosity is the most powerful force that we have access to, irrespective of location. socioeconomic background, intelligence, or any other factor. Self-motivated curiosity and the drive to answer fundamental questions is what will help us transcend the mess that we find our world in right now. Science Research encourages and teaches students how to use this indelible force.
I could tell he thought about this answer carefully, and it shows in how well-put it is.
Q: What would make you happiest as a teacher?
A: To see my students ignite the spark of curiosity, to let that fire burn in them, that's why I became a teacher.
How poetic.
A few questions to provide a better picture of MCS Science Research's fearless leader (student observations on his answers are italicized):
Q: What is your approach to motivating students?
A: I don't look at my job as motivating students; I look at it as helping students find their own motivation, and then getting out of their way. I occasionally step in to offer encouragement or to shake them out of a stall.
As a student, I find this to be mostly accurate. "Shake" is an apropos term.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a teacher?
A: I get to learn every single day, and I get to share my excitement with my students.
Mr. Mann's excitement is often palpable, especially when he is talking about fungi.
Q: What parts of science excite you the most?
A: I'm intensely curious, so science offers a reasonable way to sate my curiosity and to explore ideas, concepts, and thoughts with people who are far smarter than I am.
This is essentially the worldview impressed upon us as Science Research students.
Q: What, in your opinion, lies in the future of scientific research?
A: Everything. For me, science is less about discovery than learning what questions to ask next.
According to Mr. Mann, the "how" of everything is within the realm of scientific discovery.
Q: If you could study under one historical innovator, who would it be?
A: Nikola Tesla.
No hesitation given for the choice; Tesla was notoriously eccentric, so I believe the two of them might get along.
Q: Why Tesla?
A: There is so much we don't know about what Tesla figured out, and there's so much that we don't know if it was either genius or insanity, and where one left and the other began.
This is 100% accurate based on everything Mr. Mann has taught us about Tesla.
Q: What, in your opinion, is the most valuable thing that Science Research imparts to students?
A: Self-motivated curiosity is the most powerful force that we have access to, irrespective of location. socioeconomic background, intelligence, or any other factor. Self-motivated curiosity and the drive to answer fundamental questions is what will help us transcend the mess that we find our world in right now. Science Research encourages and teaches students how to use this indelible force.
I could tell he thought about this answer carefully, and it shows in how well-put it is.
Q: What would make you happiest as a teacher?
A: To see my students ignite the spark of curiosity, to let that fire burn in them, that's why I became a teacher.
How poetic.