As the new school year begins, UC High is welcoming wonderful new educators onto campus, who bring way more than just lesson plans. From swimming with sharks to getting students hooked on mystery novels, our new teachers are ready to make class more exciting. Meet Mr. Johnathan Ricks, the new Marine Science and Chemistry teacher, and Mr. Nicolas Williams, who’s joining the English department.
If you think science is just about textbooks and labs, think again. Ricks is the type of teacher who has lived the kind of adventures most of us only see on TV. “Since I grew up in Minnesota, I was so far away from the ocean and it was always like this mystical place far away that I couldn’t get to. I think since I wasn’t near it, I wanted to learn everything about it,” said Ricks. That curiosity turned into a passion that eventually brought him face to face with some of the ocean’s biggest sea creatures.
His love for the outdoors started young, thanks to TV Star Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. “Steve Irwin had a TV show back in the day, and he was always so stoked about anything. He’d look at the grossest spider and talk about how pretty it was. So his passion ignited my passion,” said Ricks. That same enthusiasm now drives Ricks as a teacher, inspiring him to share science with students.
Now, Ricks wants to bring that same excitement to UC High. He said, “Since everything I did was outdoor education, I want to try and bring the outdoors into the classroom.” Ricks also hopes to bring fish tanks and guest speakers into his classroom and use his personal experience to make science come alive.
He also wants students to see ocean life in a new light. “Sharks are not out there to eat them. They’re actually not as scary as everyone thinks they are,” said Ricks. He wants his students to see science as an adventure.
If you end up in Williams’ English class, be ready for stories, laughter, and maybe even a murder mystery. He was inspired to become a teacher because of the English teachers he had in high school. “They really opened up my eyes to the world of literature. They changed my life, really. So, if I can help students discover that world, I’m here for it,” said Williams.
What he enjoys most about teaching is without a doubt, the students. “Every day is an adventure. You never know what is kicking around in these heads and it is always interesting. I really like being around funny people, genuinely funny. High schoolers are the funniest,” said Williams.
One of his favorite things to read and teach is mystery fiction. “Specifically, anything by Agatha Christie. Even though they are old and dusty, these books have a way of sucking you in. So many students will tell me they hate reading, but as soon as we get into a mystery (Christie or others) they tend to change their minds,” said Williams. He hopes mysteries can show students that reading can actually be fun.
When he’s not teaching or writing, you’ll find Williams at the theater or traveling. “After New York, or maybe Chicago, there is not a better theatre town in the U.S. than San Diego. I also travel frequently. I spent most of the summer in Hawaii,” said Williams.
Ricks and Williams may be teaching totally different subjects, but they share the same mission: to inspire students. Whether it’s discovering that sharks aren’t as scary as they seem or realizing that a mystery novel can actually be fun, both teachers are ready to make learning more exciting.