Baitz inspires future generations in the classroom. photo by Sony Calhoun
An insight into Thomas Jefferson’s Physical Science & AP Environmental Science teacher.
Scott Baitz is Thomas Jefferson High School’s Physical Science and AP Environmental Science teacher. Born in Long Island, NY, Baitz and his family would often go camping, which ignited his passion for environmental sciences. Up until his senior year of high school, Baitz was “wavering between going into photography as a career, or computer programming,” but then thought more deeply about what he truly wanted. Earth science was always an interest, and he noted it as something he could “talk about in length without getting bored,” it naturally became the course he wanted to pursue as a career. Baitz obtained his Bachelor’s in Secondary Education, Earth science at SUNY New Paltz in upstate New York.
Baitz’s wife was born and raised in Colorado, and when he was looking to move on from teaching middle schoolers, she, a former DPS student, mentioned that TJ had always been a good school. Through talking to the people that interviewed him and witnessing the magic of the school himself, Baitz began teaching at TJ in 2020. Coincidentally, this was also during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, as he remarked, made teaching “not really a difficult year of teaching, just a frustrating year of teaching.” He said this was due to many people not showing up despite them still doing the assigned work. Baitz also noted that there was a lack of connection with the students. It wasn’t until the lockdown ended that Baitz felt as though he became truly immersed in the TJ culture with the teachers and students.
Now in his fifth year, Baitz has become an integral part of the science department. He values how collaborative the teachers are, describing the environment as “super helpful and friendly,” and noting that “it doesn’t feel very cliquey.” Baitz also brought up a very unique trait to TJ, the fact that “even though students sometimes don’t like being in school, they like TJ.” He believes his greatest strengths when it comes to teaching are his “in depth content knowledge” and “ability to connect with students.” To Baitz, the most rewarding part of his job is when he teaches and sees students find something they find really interesting, which ends up “lighting a spark of interest or passion.”
This year he began teaching the AP Environmental Science course as well as the Physical Science course he’d taught in previous years. The Physical Science curriculum was carefully crafted by Baitz and his peers, which created a real sense of ownership over it and also allowed for flexibility, meaning they “could stretch things out/squeeze things down based on student needs.” In contrast, when teaching AP Environmental Science, Baitz noted that AP is a lot faster as there are more topics to cover. There are prescribed things that need to be taught and will be asked on the test, leading to less flexibility when teaching. Baitz prefers a good mix of lectures and a hands-on approach when teaching, as the approximation and abstract simulations in a hands-on approach still shows how concepts taught in lectures might work in a real world.
Outside of teaching, Baitz finds joy in his numerous hobbies, one of which is photography. He particularly enjoys things with specific rituals. For example, when it comes to photography, it brings him joy to take the time to capture photos on film and then develop the images through a precise process. As a self proclaimed “coffee addict,” Baitz is also known for having a small but impressive coffee setup in his classroom in order to satisfy his needs throughout the day. His love for rituals transfers to his coffee, as he is very meticulous and particular with the way he makes it.
Whether he’s leading a hands-on soil lab, discussing environmental policy, or snapping photos on a weekend hike, Baitz approaches everything with the same thoughtful curiosity and dedication. His classroom, filled with laughter, questions, and the faint aroma of fresh coffee, reflects not only his passion for science but also his belief in connection, creativity, and the joy of learning.
