Mr. Potts
Introduction
Hey there! My name is Mr. Potts, and I am one of the Science Teachers here at West Stanly High School. I have taught at West Stanly since January 2021 in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Much has changed since then, as has my teaching style. I take pride in continually working to improve my class, to make it more enriching, engaging, and effective for my students. It is my goal to be the absolute best teacher I can be! As a science teacher, it is my mission to inspire a wonder, appreciation, and responsibility for the natural world around us.
Semester Schedule
Fall 2023
Spring 2024
Earth & Environmental Science
In this course we will learn about how the Earth is structured, how it makes life possible here on Earth, and how different forces (especially us as humans) affect it. In the same way that you want to know about your house and how to take care of it, you want to do the same for the Earth because, well, it is our home! We also share it with over 8 billion other humans along with a lot of other living organisms! So join me in learning about our amazing home! Below are some items you'll need to get started!
- Join the Earth & Environmental Science Remind. Parents are invited to join as well!
- Gather the below classroom supplies.
- 3 ring binder (1" recommended)
- loose leaf graphing paper
- loose leaf ruled (lined) paper
- ruler
- pens and pencils
- colored pencils
- whiteout (if using pen)
- Review the syllabus.
Biology
Biology literally means "the study of life," so that is what we are doing in this class. While you may think of animal, plants and dissections, our primary focus will be with the structure and development of life. We will start small, with cells and microorganisms, at times observing them with microscopes! Then, we will look at how traits are inherited and how this leads to the change in organisms over time. Finally we will look at how organisms interact with other organisms (including us) and their environment within an ecosystem. So join me as we look at the crowning jewel of our solar system: life on Earth. Let's begin by completing the below.
- Join the Biology Remind. Parents are invited to join as well!
- Gather the below supplies for class.
- 3-ring binder (1.5 in. recommended)
- 5 dividers
- loose leaf ruled (lined) paper
- Scissors
- Pens & Pencils
- Colored Pencils
- Whiteout (if using pen)
- Review the syllabus.
About Me
Teaching at West Stanly High is personal for me, as I grew up here off of Buster Road in Oakboro. Much of my family, including my mom, two uncles, and cousins, all graduated from West. Therefore, teaching here is partly how I give back to the community that helped shape who I am. I have lived elsewhere, of course. I went to Gray Stone Day School on Pfeiffer's Campus during high school and enjoyed playing soccer, running track and cross country. After graduating high school, I attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, where I earned my Bachelor's in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing, in 2015. I met my wife, Katy, there as well. We got married that summer, and I began working in the industrial door industry in a variety of roles.
I am very much a believer in self-discovery - that we are continually learning about ourselves - our strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. I had learned during my 4 years in the corporate world that I was less motivated by corporate achievements and more by investing in others. Therefore, I decided in 2019 that I wanted to become a science teacher, as it allows that to be my primary goal!
When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family and various hobbies. As mentioned previously, I met my wife Katy at college and we have been married for over 8 years. We also welcomed our first daughter, Emery, in 2022. I have two brothers, and I love to spend time with them. As for hobbies, I love to spend time outdoors, especially hiking. I have hiked over 350 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and usually spend a couple weeks of my summer hiking more of it. I also enjoy cycling, running, and playing video games (mostly action adventure). Anyway, enough about me, as I'm sure you will learn more over the school year. I look forward to working with you in the future and helping you learn more about yourself and this wonderous world around us!
