“When hiring a new teacher after someone who has been teaching for 30 years it can be challenging but Peter Stenross brings good energy and good knowledge like what made Andy Weaver special,” astronomy teacher Ben Straka said.
“I have really big shoes to fill with Weaver leaving; I would love to be able to emulate the way he was able to reach students and the way he got them excited about science,” new science teacher Peter Stenross said. Stenross started this fall is excited to teach his new students about his passion for science.
Before Stenross became a teacher, he went to college in Maine. While he was there, he studied aquaculture and was planning to go into marine biology. He shortly realized that he did not want to work in a lab the rest of his life.
Stenross went into marine biology thinking it was more interactive and “swimming with dolphins”, but he realized that was not necessarily the opportunity it brings. Therefore he kept a 225-gallon reef tank based on the Red Sea Ecosystem to keep his passion.
While he was not a teacher, he was actually a lobsterman in Florida for 2 years, which Stenross said was hard for him to leave because of the money he was making. He decided he did not want to do that for the rest of his life, so he tried to move home and teach in Maine, but some family issues brought him back to grad school in Rochester, NY.
Shortly after that, there was a huge teacher layoff. A school in Arizona reached out to Stenross and offered him a job, so he relocated and taught there for 2 years.
“It was too hot for me. My brother and sister in law lived in Minnesota so I moved back up here; they were giving birth to my nephews and I wanted to be closer to them,” Stenross said.
I have really big shoes to fill with Weaver leaving; I would love to be able to emulate the way he was able to reach students and the way he got them excited about science.
— Peter Stenross
This fall will be the first time Stenross is teaching AP Environmental Science. He also teaches sections of biology. These are the classes he has to take over to cover for Weaver leaving last spring.
Before coming to the high school, he taught at Faribault High School. He taught physical science, biology and AP biology.
“I was getting my teaching certification transferred over to Minnesota, got a job down at Faribault and worked there for eight years; I also coached the science team,” Stenross said.
“I hope to bring something unique to Stillwater because that’s something that Stillwater really does try to push,” Stenross said.
Stenross has a very interesting and “real” background which can interest students, an education is all about how to expand a young person’s mind and keep them interested Straka said.
Students tend to learn better and enjoy a class if they have a good relationship with their teacher.
“Stenross is a very welcoming, happy person who is very fun to be around,” junior Gabbie Smith said.
Stenross has came into this school with a high expectation after Weaver, but so far everyone is happy with the decision of him coming to this school because he brings good energy.
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