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Faculty Focus: Katye Adams Couch '92
Classes: Chemistry and Neuroscience
Cocurricular Involvement: Science Club
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Cocurricular Involvement: Science Club
Q. What was your path to teaching?
A. I was working in various fields of Biology trying to figure out the best path for me when I got a call from my college advisor telling me about an opening at GPS to teach science. I had never considered teaching, but when I thought about it, I was very excited about the opportunity. Once I started working at GPS teaching seventh grade science and biology, I found my joy and fulfillment, and I’m here 25+ years later!
Q. What is your teaching philosophy?
A. I think students learn best when they discover information and patterns for themselves with support and guidance from a teacher invested in their success. It also helps when it is something students care about or relate their learning to the real world.
Q. What do you love most about teaching at GPS?
A. The students and the positive supportive culture among students, faculty, and staff.
Q. How is GPS different from when you were a student? What about the same?
A. I think I remember some orange shag carpet as a student—that has been replaced with more modern decor. The Davenport middle school was not here when I was a student, either. There also weren't very few AP classes. In terms of what's the same, I think the culture of a love of learning is similar to when I was a student, and lunch is still very good!
Q. Do you remember what your Chapel Talk was about?
A. Respecting the individuality of others and yourself.
Q. You’ve recently started teaching upper school again after teaching middle school for many years. What has that been like?
A. Great! I really miss the middle-schoolers but I also love having high school students, and I love the topics I get to share with them. It has been neat to see the maturity and increased academic curiosity in many of the girls I taught in seventh grade now that I am seeing them again as sophomores, juniors, or seniors.
Q. What drew you to your role as Dean of Teaching & Learning? What are your goals with that?
A. The main thing that drew me to the role was the love of learning I developed as a GPS student. While working here, I’ve appreciated being able to improve my craft, stay current in the science topics I’m teaching. I’ve also enjoyed support in learning new teaching techniques, new problem-solving methods, and learning more about my community. One of the reasons I love working at GPS is the collegiality and the support I’ve gotten to help my teaching improve. I hope to strengthen this even more and help to provide greater in-house supports to faculty and to reinforce that we are all learners of various stages.
