About Me
My name is Stephanie Costigan and I currently live in San Diego, CA. I am originally from Lake Orion, MI and I attended Michigan State University. I graduated from MSU with a B.S. in 2010; I majored in Biological Sciences, minored in Chemistry, and have an Integrated Science endorsement. While in college, I also worked in a plant research laboratory for 2.5 years and had my research published in Plant Physiology. The summer after graduating, I studied abroad in South Africa as I started my master’s program, MATC (Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum), with a focus on technology. In Cape Town, South Africa, I had a placement in a high school science classroom and taught lessons to an 8th grade natural science class. I lived with a host family for a portion of the time and my host-mother was an Afrikaans teacher at the school where I was placed. It was a wonderful and life changing experience.
A couple weeks after I returned from Africa, I started my student teaching internship at Holt High School in Holt, MI. That year I taught Biology and Zoology, coached Science Olympiad, JV Girls Tennis, and was an advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance. Towards the end of my internship I attended a teaching job fair at MSU where I found a job; the position that I accepted was in Bakersfield, CA teaching high school biology and physical science. After my yearlong teaching internship came to an end, I studied abroad again to continue working on my master's degree; this time I went to Europe – The Netherlands, Germany, and France (plus a trip to Belgium just for fun). This also was a wonderful experience where I learned more about different types of schools around the world. Feel free to check out the blog that I created as a part of my master's program.
A few weeks after I returned from Europe, I moved to California. I taught at Ridgeview High School for 2 years; the first year I taught biology and physical science and the second year I taught AP biology and biology (check out some samples of student work as well as student feedback about my teaching and classroom). I also was the advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance and assisted with Science Quiz Bowl competitions. The school that I taught at was a Title 1 school with a population of 70% Hispanic students. Being from a suburb outside of Detroit, the city and school environment was a big change for me. It was challenging at times, but also rewarding. Bakersfield was a stepping-stone to the city where I dreamed of living – San Diego, CA. I now live in San Diego and work as a Veterinary Technician at Bodhi Veterinary Clinic and Animal Hospital. I am learning a lot and am enjoying exploring the veterinary world. In my free time, I enjoy jogging, reading (some of my favorites include The Hunger Games and Divergent series), and taking my adorable Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund mix), Lucy, to the numerous dog beaches and dog parks in town.
A couple weeks after I returned from Africa, I started my student teaching internship at Holt High School in Holt, MI. That year I taught Biology and Zoology, coached Science Olympiad, JV Girls Tennis, and was an advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance. Towards the end of my internship I attended a teaching job fair at MSU where I found a job; the position that I accepted was in Bakersfield, CA teaching high school biology and physical science. After my yearlong teaching internship came to an end, I studied abroad again to continue working on my master's degree; this time I went to Europe – The Netherlands, Germany, and France (plus a trip to Belgium just for fun). This also was a wonderful experience where I learned more about different types of schools around the world. Feel free to check out the blog that I created as a part of my master's program.
A few weeks after I returned from Europe, I moved to California. I taught at Ridgeview High School for 2 years; the first year I taught biology and physical science and the second year I taught AP biology and biology (check out some samples of student work as well as student feedback about my teaching and classroom). I also was the advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance and assisted with Science Quiz Bowl competitions. The school that I taught at was a Title 1 school with a population of 70% Hispanic students. Being from a suburb outside of Detroit, the city and school environment was a big change for me. It was challenging at times, but also rewarding. Bakersfield was a stepping-stone to the city where I dreamed of living – San Diego, CA. I now live in San Diego and work as a Veterinary Technician at Bodhi Veterinary Clinic and Animal Hospital. I am learning a lot and am enjoying exploring the veterinary world. In my free time, I enjoy jogging, reading (some of my favorites include The Hunger Games and Divergent series), and taking my adorable Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund mix), Lucy, to the numerous dog beaches and dog parks in town.