New physics teacher Mr. Stark is excited to help students enjoy science. photo by Dani Prime-Morales
Thomas Jefferson High School welcomes a new Physics and Biology teacher.
Thomas Jefferson High School has a fantastic science department full of dedicated teachers, one of which being Michael Stark. Stark, a nature lover and CU Boulder alumn, is new to TJ this year and teaches AP Physics and Biology. He is exceptionally excited to be a part of TJ’s tight-knit community of hardworking students and faculty.
Although Stark is originally from Northern California, he came to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado Boulder. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Physics and did research for the electrical engineering program. While doing so, he taught a sophomore level lab and discovered he loved teaching more than he loved research. After volunteering to work for the AVID program at Boulder High, Stark’s passion for teaching only grew and he returned to CU to get a Master’s in Education. He then worked at Denver North High School for two years, teaching Chemistry and Biology, before returning to his physics roots through this position at TJ. He said, “I always knew I really wanted to come back to teach physics, and there was this amazing opportunity here to be an AP Physics teacher, which was always my dream.”
Though he found a passion for teaching, he wasn’t always so comfortable in the classroom. Stark goes on to say that when he was in high school, he wasn’t really a “school guy,” and often felt like school wasn’t the place for him. It caused him to spend time in summer school and struggle in some of his classes. But his perspective on school was changed thanks to a very special physics class. Though he was originally more interested in journalism and film, he had a rather transformative physics teacher, Jeff DeCurtins, who not only helped him gain an interest in physics, but also reassured him that he truly did have a place at school and could accomplish things even if they were hard.
Stark says the class “changed the whole trajectory of my life, and over the years I realized that if it hadn’t been for that teacher, I don’t know where I would’ve ended up. I just really wanted to be someone like that for students that maybe had a similar experience with school.” That class helped grow his curiosity about physics, which Stark described as more of an art than a science. He mentions that he enjoys physics because it’s one of the only sciences that doesn’t have to have an application. Unlike engineering or biomedicine, physics can simply be driven by curiosity and a desire to know why things are the way they are. One of his favorite parts about teaching physics is the many experiments that keep students engaged and interested.
Stark hopes to spread his knowledge to the variety of students at TJ, which he stated is one of his favorite things about the school. He admires how hardworking the students are, and believes that there is a drive to be successful embedded in the culture of the school. Stark commented that seeing students running to get to class in the hallways is a comical yet perfect demonstration of their efforts to learn and how much students here care about their education. He hopes that same drive and passion will help his AP students succeed on their test in May, but his main goal is that students walk away from his class thinking that science is cool, and that they learn something they can apply to other science classes in the future. “Students finding some enjoyment in science, as well as some sense of belonging in science, are the two things I really strive for in the classroom” he explained. Outside of the classroom, Stark loves to spend his free time outdoors. Whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, or hiking, he enjoys being surrounded by the beautiful Colorado nature with his dog Winston.
Though he is new to TJ, Stark is already making a positive impact on the students and culture of the school. He is a great addition to the science department, and Thomas Jefferson is lucky to have such an enthusiastic teacher like Stark. The Spartan community welcomes him with open arms.
