A Natural Fit: From Ichthyology to Middle School Science
| by Hannah Sparling
One of the coolest parts of Trina Seitz’ job as a middle school science teacher is the salmon farm. Every fall, Seitz takes her sixth graders on a field trip to the local salmon hatchery, where they pick up 250 eggs.
At first, Seitz would keep the salmon in her classroom, but now they live in the school cafeteria where students, teachers, parents, and other visitors can see them every day. The sixth graders are responsible for checking the water quality and caring for the fish, and at the end of the school year, they release them in a nearby river.
In a lot of ways, the salmon are a perfect tie between Seitz’ first career, as an ichthyologist, and her second act as an educator.
Trina Seitz and her sixth-grade students raise salmon every year.
Defining Her Dreams
Seitz always knew she wanted to work with animals but wasn’t sure exactly how. She grew up in Newfoundland, Canada, where fishing is a big industry, so she thought maybe something in that realm. But she also gets incredibly seasick and knew she couldn’t work on a boat.
She studied biology in college, and there was a career fair at the local marine institute right before she graduated. When Seitz saw the aquaculture booth, that was it — she knew she’d found her place.
She moved to Hawaii where she landed her dream job as an ichthyologist and met her husband. She taught scuba diving and first aid on the side, and honestly, life was pretty perfect.
Once they had children, Seitz and her husband moved to Washington, and outside Hawaii, her career prospects seemed to drop. The only work she could find in her field was entry level and included nights and weekends, which didn’t fit her life as a new mom. So, Seitz traded her initial career dreams to focus on her new dream, her family.
When her oldest child started kindergarten, Seitz began volunteering in her classroom. At first it was just a way to help out, but she quickly felt at home. She had some experience from teaching first aid and scuba, and the rest seemed to come naturally.
“I liked how kids are sponges. Most of them really want to learn,” she said. “And I just found that I was good at it. I was good at teaching.”
Earning Her Professional Certification
Seitz went from volunteering to substitute teaching, but when she wanted to become a full-time teacher, she hit a wall. The local school district wouldn’t accept her bachelor’s degree since it was from Canada, and they wanted her to go back to a 4-year university. She was deflated. It was too much time and too much money. She couldn’t imagine spending four more years in school.
She pivoted and started subbing for the archdiocese, which recognized her degree. It was a better fit, anyway, because it gave Seitz the chance to share her faith and her love of science. There, someone in the main office recommended Moreland University to earn her professional Washington certification. Seitz enrolled and graduated from Moreland’s 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program in 2023. She also went through Moreland to earn her M.Ed. with a focus on educational technology.
“What a Godsend,” she said. “I was able to keep my job while doing the classes. It was way cheaper. It was online, so I could choose my time. And it was very hands-on. I could take whatever I learned in class that night, take it the next day to my job and actually try it, which was amazing. It gave me more confidence in my ability to do the job.”
In particular, Seitz learned a lot about differentiation, modification, and how to reach struggling students through her Moreland classes. The program forced her out of her comfort zone, she said, especially when it came to learning and using new technology, but it was all worth it in the end.
“It’s not just about learning in a book and then getting your diploma. It’s about actionable steps,” she said. “It was hard, but I definitely see the value, and I recommend it to everyone.”
Seitz’ middle-school science classes are hands-on, with lots of experiments.
‘Life Doesn’t Get Any Better’
Seitz has been with the archdiocese for eight years, where she teaches science for grades 6 through 8. She was initially teaching 4th grade, but she prefers middle school because she’s able to share more of her personality and sarcasm with her students. She loves being able to talk about science and religion and seeing her students’ curiosity and creativity.
During Confirmation, one of the questions the students answer is, “Where have you seen God?” One of them recently responded, “in science class.”
“That was a highlight for me,” Seitz said, “because, you know, there’s so many people out there that say they don’t mesh, and I disagree wholeheartedly.”
Another recent highlight was a student who came up to Seitz in the hallway and showed her a test with the highest score he’d ever earned.
“He was just beaming,” Seitz said. “Life doesn’t get any better than that.”
Looking forward, she wants to keep learning, improving as an educator, and sharing her knowledge with her students. She recently took a professional development course with Moreland on using AI in the classroom, and she can’t wait to implement what she learned.
“As a teacher, I always want to be learning,” she said. “I always want that drive to do better and improve myself. … It’s knowing that all the hard work that you’ve done has been worth it and is making a real impact on the future, on you, on your children, on your students.”
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