👨🏾🏫 Mr. Casimir: every student, ready to learn
Mr. Casimir believes that every student who walks through his classroom door can do real science, and that his job is to clear the path so they can.
His journey in education began at Brooklyn College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in the early 2000s. What started as a love of learning became a calling to teach. He went on to earn a graduate degree in education from Holy Family University, then a second graduate degree in education from Gwynedd Mercy University, preparing him to reach students in the upper grades of high school. Today he continues to grow as a leader, pursuing a master's in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification at Eastern University.
At George Washington High School, Mr. Casimir teaches 9th-grade Biology, Physical Science and Science & Society. His classroom brings together students with many different strengths, including students who receive special education and learning support, students on the autism spectrum, and students who learn best by seeing and doing. He doesn't ask students to fit one way of learning. He builds lessons that meet them where they are.
🌱 What he believes
- 🧠 Every learner can succeed. With the right support, every student can master challenging science, so he plans for different learners from the start.
- 👀 Learning should be seen, heard and done. Visuals, short readings, videos, puzzles and hands-on practice give every student more than one way in.
- 🧭 Structure builds confidence. Clear routines, step-by-step directions and a calm, predictable classroom let students take risks and try again.
- 🤝 Respect is the foundation. A classroom where everyone is safe and valued is a classroom where everyone can think.
- 👨👩👧 Families are partners. Students do best when teachers and families work as one team, so he keeps communication open all year.
For Mr. Casimir, success isn't only a grade on a report card. It's the moment a student who once said "I'm not a science person" explains how a cell works, or why atoms bond, and realizes they belong in the conversation. That moment is why he teaches, and it's what he works toward with every student, every day.
— Mr. Hans Casimir, George Washington High School