Brian Teal

My path to becoming an educator has been a unique one! I began my education in the Master’s Program at CSU, Chico in Biological Psychology. From there, I started a small tech company, then later became a commercial finance officer. After years of doing work that never quite felt like the right fit, I decided to make a major change and return to what I actually cared about: science, learning, and helping others understand the world around them. I earned my teaching credential and a second Master’s Degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Biology, and I now get to do a job I genuinely love. My students often make fun of me because one of my sayings in class is, “I mean, how cool are rocks?!? So cool!”

In this age of AI, one thing I focus on is critical thinking. I spend much of the year helping students learn how to look closely at a topic, evaluate sources, ask better questions, and come to their own evidence-based conclusions. I love seeing their excitement when they are able to answer the questions they started with, or when they realize that science often leads to even better questions.

One of the most influential teachers in my life was Mr. Leija. His door was always open, and students would meet in his classroom to eat lunch together. He had a special way of letting students know he cared, and I try to use his example in my own teaching.

My wife and I believe that travel is one of the best forms of education, and we have taken our children with us all over the world. Some of our favorite countries have been Italy, Norway, Spain, and Mexico, and we hope to visit Iceland next. When I’m not geeking out over science, I often spend my time mountain biking, hiking, overlanding, or teaching technology and AI to small businesses.