Willa Handy
High School Chemistry Teacher
Metro Early College High School
Q&A
Who have you admired in your path into the sciences and what qualities did you see in them that you embody in your own path?
I will always admire my professor and mentor, Dr. Alloway, as well as my mother and aunt. I started college unprepared and didn’t catch up for quite a while. I often feel that Dr. Alloway’s support and guidance is not what put me on my path into the sciences but is ultimately what kept me there. From my very first semester until my last ever lab, she never failed to assure me that I belonged in STEM if that’s where I wanted to be. Her ability to make me feel valued as a person, student, and chemist was the holistic support that assured me I could and would do great things in this field. My mom and aunt were educators for over 47 and 35 years, respectively, and few things, if any at all, are more admirable to me than dedicating your entire life to educating and mentoring others. I embody the qualities of unwavering holistic support and wholehearted dedication to empower others in STEM.
Can you tell us about a memorable moment in your career—a time when you knew you were working in your purpose?
I have never been as sure about anything as I am sure that I was born to teach. Each semester, when I read my anonymous course evaluations, I am almost brought to tears that students are seeing and benefiting from my efforts to teach them more than just the content. It’s hard to see the impact daily but one moment that truly stands out is when I asked a student, “I see your grades and hear of your behaviors in other classes. Chemistry is your hardest class this semester and it’s the one you’re acing. What’s up with that?” The student laughed and responded, “It’s because I know you care about me so I try really hard.” That moment was one of the many reminders that I’m doing so much more than teaching chemistry. I am making sure each student knows they have potential, teaching them to see it, encouraging them to apply it, and supporting them through the barriers along the way. I am truly working in my purpose.
What is one book or film you would recommend to a young person interested in a career in sciences?
I would recommend both the book and film “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot to middle and high school aged students to explore the ethics and phenomena of medicine and the book “Fizz: Nothing Is as It Seems” by Zvi Schreiber for high school and college aged students to explore the intricate workings of the universe.
Career Highlights
- Earned the Priscilla Tyson Leadership Award for fostering site-wide excellence and inclusivity in 2018
- Member of MECHS’ Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committee –serve as a co-adviser of MECHS’ Gender & Sexuality Alliance
- Selected as a recipient of a VING Project award for the inclusive, supportive, and student-centered environment in 2022
- Doctoral research focused on improving science course Mastery rates and making early college opportunities more equitable and attainable for underrepresented students
Biography
Willa Handy is originally from West Virginia and has been teaching in Ohio for the past two years. Willa obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2016, a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2020, and is currently in the last year of a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program. Willa is a firm believer in the power of positive relationships alongside a good education and has over 10 years of experience working with students as a tutor, mentor, childcare provider, supervisor, and teacher.