Science is teacher’s inspiration

Born in Guyana Guytri Still now lives in Florida and teaches science to gifted students at McNair Magnet Middle School in Cocoa Fl. Guytri is one of eight finalists for the 2006 Teacher of the Year award for Brevard Public Schools.

Guytri Still never intended to be a teacher.

But when she found herself in front of a classroom of high school seniors in her native country of Guyana, she said she realized that’s where she “belonged.”

Now, for the second time in five years, the science department chairwoman at McNair Magnet Middle is up for the district’s most prestigious award.

“I love teaching because I have the opportunity to keep learning,” she said. “These kids keep you on your feet.” Still teaches five accelerated science classes and a research class to about 150 gifted students each day.

She often stays late after school and works many Saturdays helping students prepare for competitions.

Eighth-grader Alexia Baillow said Still’s hands-on approach sets her apart from other teachers. In a lesson recently on friction, motion and pressure, Alexia and her classmates built bottle rockets and sent them soaring outside.

“Anytime you have a problem, “Ms. Still is the type of teacher that you can go to and talk to, and she’ll help you solve it in an efficient way,” the 13-year-old said.

Guytri Still has been teaching for 28 years and has been at McNair Magnet Middle School since 1997, where she is currently Science Department Chair. Ms.

Still is also the teacher of Gifted/Accelerated Comprehensive Science for seventh and eighth grades. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Stetson University and a Master of Arts from Rollins College in Winter Park.

Past awards include the Space Coast Science Alliance, Exemplary Science Teacher Award in 2001 and 2005, Florida finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2002, and McNair Magnet School Teacher of the Year in 2001

From Florida Today