IVY MARR
Hometown: Hubbardton, Vermont
Field: Chemistry
Teacher preparation program:
Harvard University
Anticipated date of graduation: May 2010

Ivy Marr is the daughter of two public school teachers who always stressed the importance of education. While Ivy spent countless hours in her parents’ schools, she never considered becoming a teacher. Instead, she dreamt of becoming a scientist.

Ivy went on to Cornell University, where she earned a degree in chemistry. Upon graduating, she enrolled in a chemistry PhD program at UC Berkeley where she was worked as a graduate student instructor and came to love the experience. When back in the lab, Ivy realized her calling was to become a teacher. “I found the lab lonely. I missed my students and the challenges associated with teaching.”

These feelings prompted Ivy to leave the PhD program. Before committing to teaching full time, she earned a master’s degree in marine biology and traveled to Greece and Costa Rica where she volunteered in two separate sea turtle protection projects. “I decided to gain more experience as a scientist and a global citizen before dedicating my life to education.” Ivy taught chemistry for two years at Rutland High School in Vermont, before enrolling in a teacher preparation program. She looks forward to making a difference in struggling schools in the United States.