Hello, my name is Quinn Robinson and I am thrilled to be a part of the RVA team! I grew up in Sussex, WI on a small hobby farm. Since a very early age, I have had a hunger for knowledge and a love for the outdoors. Whereas most people outgrow a child-like curiosity for the world around them, I still continuously ask questions starting with the word "why". I simply love the journey of learning and the feeling of empowerment while acquiring knowledge. I am a quintessential example of a life-long learner. I attended the University of MN - Twin Cities and majored in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies and minored in forestry. This was a great program for me because my major allowed me to take classes in various disciplines from soil science, fisheries and wildlife, ecology, and hydrology to name a few. During my undergraduate education, I gained valuable work experience as a forestry lab technician in the Forest Ecology Lab and a forestry technician for St. Louis County in northern Minnesota. I graduated with distinction and eventually decided to return to school to become a teacher. I attended the University of WI - River Falls to attain a Master of Science in Education. During that time, I was fortunate enough to work as a teacher's aide at a local high school and was granted an internship for student teaching. Both of these opportunities provided an invaluable teaching experience. I have worked as a high school science teacher for the past thirteen years as both a traditional science teacher and an adviser at a project-based charter school. I have been fortunate enough to chaperone two trips to Central America: Costa Rica and Guatamala/Belize. There I observed rainforests and coral reefs while experiencing cultures much different than my own. These trips were truly life changing! I work hard to perfect my craft and try to continuously improve my teaching by taking advantage of professional development opportunities and frequently enrolling in science related coursework. I feel I am very personable and a good communicator; both essential traits for effective teachers. My educational philosophy is based on common sense. I always try to generate student interest in science by demonstrating its relevance. This is done through student-based research projects, laboratory investigations, or discussions that demonstrate connections between content and the students' lives. In addition, I incorporate the latest technology whenever possible; but not for the sake of simply using a new technology. Using these guiding principles, I have found that student achievement increases as well as their desire to learn. Once this is achieved, the student takes ownership of their learning and real education begins. Personal hobbies include hunting and fishing. Trout fishing in the Driftless area is my favorite type of fishing, but I also enjoy fishing the many lakes of northern WI throughout the year. I have a two year old German Shorthair Pointer that I train for upland game birds. Nothing compares to walking the woods in Fall in pursuit of ruffed grouse! I am looking forward to learning with you and assisting in your educational journey!