At the Newcastle at Blanchard football game, Newcastle Assistant Principal Genevieve Craig was presented a check for Science and Math education for Newcastle High School by the people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas. 

This support will be benefiting Newcastle STEM programs and teachers. Harry Donaldson is one of the staff members benefiting from the donation.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Your hobbies, your passions.

My hobbies are coaching and watching soccer since I have stopped playing. 

What classes do you teach?

Classes that I teach are Engineering essentials, Introduction to Engineering and Design and also Aircraft maintenance.

Where did you go to college and what led you into teaching?

I attended and graduated USAO in Chickasha with a degree in Physical Education. What got me into teaching? I applied to Newcastle as a coach at first and shortly after the head coach at the time open to the door to sub teaching for me. Teaching was never the original plan but after subbing for a short while our Principle Adam Hull offered me a full time position here in engineering. I am now into my second year of teaching and never thought I would enjoy it as much as I am now and thats down to the program here at Newcastle and the kids energy and application to learn and be successful.

Who mentored you into the educator you are today?

I have had a lot of help getting started here at Newcastle and made to feel welcome and valued. One that stands out is Adrienne Rainey. She has gone above and beyond to make sure I always have everything that I need and that I am heard when I need to be heard. She has played a huge part in helping me develop as a teacher.

What do you love about teaching?

What I love about teaching would be the creativity, energy and passion that the students bring everyday. 

What is great about your current school?

Newcastle is great to me for many reasons, we are a growing school with student enrollment growing each year but here we still offer that small school approach where its more personable than some bigger schools. The support the school offers to their staff is unwavering and there is a real family feel about the community here as a whole. I have enjoyed every minute of being a Racer.

The people of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas are committed to supporting STEM education. Why is teaching Science and Math so important?

Teaching Math and Science in an engineering environment is so important as it allows students to critically think and problem solve as they will have to have those skills for life outside of the classroom. Technology is always changing and advancing and we need to help mold the young minds into engineers that can continue the trend of creating and innovating so that the next generation have the right tools to be successful and improve quality of lives.  

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