At the Tuttle vs Bridge Creek football game, Tuttle’s Principal Matt Surber was presented a check for Science and Math education at Tuttle High School by the people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas.
One of the teachers who will benefit from this donation is Ron Welch who teaches Biology 2, Honors Chemistry, Physical Science and Honors Anatomy/Physiology at Tuttle High.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Your hobbies, your passions.
I have been teaching Science for 36 consecutive years and have spent 10 or more years teaching at McLoud H.S, Minco H.S. and now this is my 12th year at Tuttle H.S. I am married and have three grown sons. I enjoy woodworking and playing golf when I get the chance to do so.
What classes do you teach?
My class schedule tends to change somewhat from year to year but this year I am teaching Biology 2, Honors Chemistry, Physical Science and Honors Anatomy/Physiology. In the past I have also taught other courses including Biology 1, Physics, Zoology, ACT Prep, Environmental Science as well as 7th and 8th grade science.
Where did you go to college and what led you into teaching?
In 1985 I receive a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and then a degree in Science Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1988. I was drawn to teaching due to an innate curiosity about the way that the world works and I believed that teaching would allow me to continue learning indefinitely.
Who mentored you into the educator you are today?
Over the years I have been privileged to work with many fine teachers and have learned something from each of them but I would have to say I was inspired to go into education due to the influences of two of my own high school teachers at US Grant H.S. in Oklahoma City. Mr. Cable showed me what it was to effectively teach Biology and Chemistry and My senior English teacher Mrs. Baugh demonstrated a passion for teaching that I have often tried to model.
What do you love about teaching?
I have always loved learning and teaching has allowed me to continue learning about how the world works at a deeper level. Teaching has allowed me to instill this love of learning to many of my students over the years. I am proud to have devoted much of my life and career to such a noble undertaking.
What is great about your current school?
I love being a teacher at Tuttle H.S. Although I have taught at several fine schools I have never felt as supported by the educational leadership and community as I do in Tuttle
Why is teaching Science and Math so important?
Science to me is an attempt to take the facts regarding how the world works and use them to form a clearer view of how all living and nonliving components of life fit together in the big picture. To me, mathematics provides the proof needed to support the big ideas of science.
