Interview with Dr. Jody Clark
Courtesy of Helen Kwon
What subject do you teach? Why did you choose this subject?
I teach Biology, the AP and Honors sections. I chose the biological sciences because I have always been curious about nature and how complex organisms grow and interact with each other and their surroundings.
Where were you before coming to LCA? Why did you come to LCA?
I majored in Biochemistry in college, then taught Life Science, Physical Science, and Biology for several years at a small private school in Connecticut. I decided to attend graduate school to learn more about the craft of teaching, to explore topics in biology in more depth, and to conduct independent research studying the cell and molecular processes involved during vertebrate embryonic development. My Master’s thesis studied the rescue of contractions in muscle cells of dysgenic mouse embryos. My PhD dissertation described the developmental gene expression of a tissue-specific cell recognition protein in embryonic chick retina. I also worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the Whitehead Institute at MIT, investigating the development of the central nervous system of zebrafish embryos. Not only have I studied science as an academic discipline, I also have been a scientist, learning through basic research. For a period of time, I left research and academia to raise a family. Now, I am the parent of two teenagers who inform and enrich my ability to teach, mentor, and advise adolescents. I returned to teaching part-time, working in charter schools in Minnesota and here in Massachusetts, and I am thrilled to resume my teaching career at LCA. As a Christian educator, I feel called to motivate my students to learn about God’s natural world, both through the lens of a scientist who understands the molecular processes that regulate life, as well as through the lens of a believer who is awed by the wonders of God’s creation.
What is one thing that you like about LCA?
I am so impressed by the positive, supportive atmosphere at the school.
What is one memorable moment you have during your own middle school/high school experience?
It is hard to single out one memorable moment from those years that were packed with many formative experiences. My seventh grade life science class made a huge impression on me. I remember being so fascinated the first time I dissected a frog that I came home, caught a toad in the backyard, and dissected it to show my younger brothers all the organs that were inside. In high school, when I wasn’t in classes, I divided my time between hanging out in the chemistry lab washing glassware and making solutions for my teacher, hanging out in the school’s performing arts center where I was usually rehearsing for a play, and hanging out at a nearby farm where I had a horse.
What do you like to do in your free time? (Hobbies, activities, etc).
I am passionate about the performing arts. I sing in the choir at my church and I spend time with local community theater groups, either performing onstage, assisting with the production team as stage manager, or assisting with house management. Recently, I have performed with the Nashoba Players in Westford and with Open Door Theater in Acton. Also, my daughter is a ballerina and my son is a pianist, so I attend as many of their performances as I can. I am very active with my church community, serving as senior warden of the vestry at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Westford. I also enjoy boating in Connecticut in the summers, spending time in my garden, walking and playing with my Labrador retriever, and preparing meals for my family.
What is one unique thing that most people would not know about you?
I eat a strict gluten-free diet, not because it is “trendy,” but because it is necessary for my health. I was diagnosed with celiac disease twenty years ago, long before most people knew about the condition. It is an autoimmune disorder that affects the cells in the lining of the small intestine and wreaks havoc with many systems of the body. If you offer me a cookie or a piece of cake and I turn it down, please do not be offended nor assume I am just “watching my weight.” It is simply my treatment for celiac disease. I am always happy to share tips about living gluten-free.