As the new school year began, BCA wholeheartedly welcomed Mr. Vollenweider, the newest addition to the Biology department. At BCA, he teaches freshman biology and AP biology. This year will be his 12th year teaching and he hopes to become better in the classroom and to be more involved in the school community. When Mr. Vollenweider first saw the opportunity to become a BCA teacher, he was excited and decided to apply.
So far, he has had a great experience with the faculty and students. “I felt that the faculty here were very welcoming. The students–I see a lot of engagement and respect in my classroom, it’s really nice.”
Before becoming a high school teacher, Mr. Vollenweider considered different career paths, such as working in industry or becoming a college professor. Eventually, he went into pharmaceuticals after college, but did not feel that it was right for him. As a result, he tried teaching and felt that the classroom was where he belonged.
Although it may not be known to all, Mr. Vollenwieder is an extremely accomplished person, having received a master’s degree at Stony Brook University in molecular biology and cell biology, along with a second master’s degree at Rutgers University for biomedical science. He even completed his undergraduate at William Paterson University in biotechnology.
When asked what he loves most about biology, Mr. Vollenweider had this to say: “I’ve always been a bio type of person–love animals. I think just by loving nature and by loving animals, I knew bio was kind of an area I’d like to go into, but once I explored biology, I started getting into biotechnology. It’s a very interesting topic where you’re able to apply technology to solve real world problems. For example, with recombinant DNA technology, you can now actually express recombinant proteins, which can be of medical use.”
Outside of school, Mr. Vollenweider loves to spend time with his friends and family. Interestingly enough, he also participates in birding and is, in particular, fascinated by owls. Initially, he became interested in birds when he took a college course on ornithology and environmental psychology. Other than birds, Mr. Vollenweider is quite the handyman, having done multiple projects on a house he bought a few years ago.
As for Mr. Vollenweider’s future, he hopes to become a part of some of the research that goes on at BCA. He recently became an advisor for the coral club and is excited to play that role to his fullest. He hopes to encourage students to grow not only academically, but emotionally as well and to instill confidence in them so that they can learn in a safe and nurturing space. Outside of the classroom, he hopes to be someone his son looks up to and to be a great husband as well.
As the school year progresses, Mr. Vollenweider leaves these words of advice for the students at BCA, “You’ve got to live by the three I’s: Intelligence, Intensity, and Integrity. They’re a winning combination.”
