Science Teacher Sharon Colbath, who once dreamed of becoming an astronaut, has spent many years trying to get students to reach for the stars.
Photo By Mateo Rocha
Sharon Colbath was born on the tropical island of Honolulu, Hawaii where her parents were stationed in the U.S. Navy; however, she wouldn’t be in this paradise forever. “When I was one year old, we moved to Los Angeles, California,” said Colbath. “I liked living there because we were very close to Disneyland. We would go at least once every year.” On these outings to the theme park, her three brothers and two sisters accompanied her.
Colbath says that besides going to Disneyland, she also had some very good memories with her family. “Sometimes there was a lot of tension in my family,” said Colbath. “I loved Christmas though, because it was a time when everyone was in a good mood and there was no fighting.” Colbath still enjoys going to California for Christmas to visit her family. “I love going and eating dinner by the beach, and even though it’s Christmas, it’s still eighty-something degrees out,” Colbath commented.
Growing up, Colbath started to realize her love for science and astronomy as soon as fifth grade. “I was like every kid that wants to be an astronaut,” said Colbath. “I thought it would be really cool to be able to go to different planets, the moon, and being able to see the unknown.” Unfortunately for Colbath, women were not being accepted into the Air Force, so her dreams of going to the moon were put on hold. However, this didn’t stop Colbath, it just re-directed her plans for college.
Colbath came up with the master plan to study astronomy in college, then go work at NASA and slowly work her way up to being an astronaut. “I attended the University of California where I got my Bachelor’s in Geology and then I went on to get my Master’s at the University of Oregon,” said Colbath. After receiving her Master’s Degree in Geology, she was offered a job in Casper, Wyoming that would further her learning. “I was offered a job at a business called GULF,” said Colbath. “By working here I was able to meet my husband, Ron Lee. However, after working here for awhile, Shell bought out the company and I lost my job,”
After losing her job at GULF, Colbath then made a slight change to her career choice. “Working at GULF made me realize I wasn’t being noticed,” said Colbath. “I would just show up for work everyday and it was the same routine. I wanted to get into a profession where I would be noticed and be able to make a change.”
Colbath and her new found love, Ron, then made the move to Denver, Colorado where she started her career in teaching. “I started to do my training for teaching,” said Colbath. “After my training I got my first teaching job at Cole Middle School. I worked there for five years, but the school then turned into an art school. They said if you don’t like art or teach art then you had to leave,” said Colbath.
Fortunately for Colbath, she was offered a job at Thomas Jefferson High School right after she left Cole Middle School. This year is her 21st year teaching at TJ and she says she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “Now I just teach Earth Science and Chemistry, my two favorite classes,” said Colbath. “When I first started at TJ I taught Pre-Algebra and I even did the Computer Magnet classes,” said Colbath, who not only taught students academically, but in the year of 1991-1992 she coached the Junior Varsity girls’ softball team. “I had to convince the school to find another coach for the team though, because I didn’t have enough time to help students.”
Colbath says that one of her main purposes for teaching students is getting them prepared for college and being there to help guide them. “When I got to college I found it was very hard because I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have any of the study skills I needed,” she said. “Some complain that my classes are too hard but I am teaching them how to be ready. If they can get through my classes they’ll do fine in college. I am teaching them how to learn and listen and also how to ask for help.” Colbath said that her best teaching memories at TJ are when students come back and tell her how they made it through college because of her studying skills and how she really prepared them.
When Colbath isn’t busy with Spartans she spends her time giving back to her community. “I am the State Director for the Colorado Science Olympiad,” said Colbath. “Each year we host science competitions at the Colorado School of Mines; this year the competition is on April 21st,” she said. “There are different sections kids can participate in, like building mouse trap cars. We usually have up to 50 middle schools attend this event, so we really have to be prepared.” Colbath has been volunteering at the Colorado Science Olympiad for 20 years now and plans to keep helping out. “I think it is very important for everyone to give back to their community in some way,”
Colbath says that in her free time she enjoys staying active. “My husband and I love to walk our dog around the neighborhood.” She has a six -pound Italian Greyhound and the canine is the perfect fit for the couple. “We decided not to have kids because neither one of us felt we could truly commit to the child. I always say when you do something, do it right, and with a kid I think one of us would have to stay home with it. Both of us wanted to keep working so we decided to not have children.” Colbath says that her dog is great because she can leave it alone for awhile and they don’t need as much attention as a child would. Colbath also enjoys riding her bike along with taking walks.
Colbath says she is going to keep teaching students at Thomas Jefferson High School and wants to keep pushing them to do their best. She encourages kids to follow their dreams and, as she says, “If you’re going to do something, do it right.”
