Some students may know Joanne or Sarah Bevilacqua as chemistry teachers at State High, but even with the shared last name, many students are unaware that they are mother and daughter.
Joanne Bevilacqua and her husband made the move to State College after he accepted a position at Penn State. Joanne Bevilacqua and her husband were drawn to the area not only for career opportunities but also because of the reputation of the local school district.
“We were consistently impressed with how good the school district was,” Joanne Bevilaqua said via email.
In 2012, Joanne Bevilacqua began exploring a new career direction. With a background in the sciences, she decided to enroll in several education courses. After earning her Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction in 2014, she took a teaching position with the district in 2015. Joanne Bevilacqua spent a year at Mount Nittany Middle School before transitioning to State High.
The MEd in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for educators seeking to enhance their teaching skills and develop innovative instructional strategies, allowing Joanne Bevilacqua to have an interactive and supportive classroom. Junior Hunter Haines described how this impacts the experience of her class.
“She’s very funny… she engages in a lot of conversations, and she’s very good at drawing, which helps me understand a lot more things,” Haines said.
Sarah Bevilacqua, on the other hand, has been in the State College community her entire life. Growing up in the area, she attended State High and later studied chemistry at institutions like Penn State and California Institute of Technology. Sarah Bevilacqua’s experiences created a passion for science education, leading her to complete her MEd in Curriculum and Instruction as well. After student-teaching at State High, she took the opportunity to return as a full-time teacher.
“I’m very happy I was able to return to State High,” Sarah Bevilacqua said via email.
The Bevilacquas’ classrooms are located next to each other, creating an environment that is both collaborative and fun.
“I am thankful to have Sarah in the class ‘next door’ every day. She is so good with her students and has taught me so much about being a kind and compassionate teacher. I love when I hear her laughing in the hallway. She has an infectious laugh, and we have a ton of fun together,” Joanne Bevilacqua said via email.
Sarah Bevilacqua shared a similar perspective on working with her mother.
“It’s a lot of fun. I’m thankful to have my mom as a mentor to bounce ideas off of. She does a great job creating engaging lessons. Also, she has good snacks and coffee,” Sarah Bevilacqua said via email.
The Bevilacquas also incorporate other chemistry teachers’ ideas in their own teaching. They constantly support each other by working together to develop labs and hands-on activities.
One of Sarah Bevilacqua’s favorite experiments was inspired by her mother.
“My mom showed me how to make methane bubbles and set them on fire. The experience was unexpected and I exclaimed, ‘WOW!’ I was surprised by how hot they were and how much fire was produced,” Sarah Bevilacqua said via email.
Sarah Bevilacqua hopes to instill this same sense of curiosity in her students.
This mother-daughter duo is excited to teach and inspire together–whether it’s their students or each other.
