Lisa Horsch

Lisa Horsch is the new biology teacher. She grew up all over the Midwest and got her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Wichita State, and her masters’ from the University of Iowa. She has been teaching for 29 years. She spent 12 years teaching at a middle school in Des Moines and six years teaching eighth grade math and science and ninth grade biology at the middle school. She thought it would be more interesting to teach kids, rather than work in a lab.

Ever since she was a child, she has always been fascinated by science. Her parents reinforced her curiosity through trips through both nature and museums.

“I’ve been to science museums in every area I’ve been in and I continue to do that as an adult,” she said. “It’s kind of a geeky thing as an adult to walk in without any kids but I don’t care, I love science museums,”

Her frequent visits led her on the path to becoming a science major.

Having moved up to the high school from teaching at the middle school, Horsch is now enjoying seeing her old students and familiar faces.

“The best part about being here is to have you guys walk down the hall and say ‘hi’, because I never got that at the middle school since I was always teaching the oldest kids and I didn’t know the grade below,” Horsch said. “I didn’t know you as an eighth grader, and then once I had you, you left me.”

When she’s not in school, Horsch loves to go hiking, biking, kayaking, camping and gardening. She also loves to read. She started her own book club with teachers from both the high school and the middle school.