When CHS9 biology teacher Laronna Doggett was a child, she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. More than 30 years later, those childhood interests now play into her vibrant classroom, from a pillar dedicated to sea life to the marine life examples she uses while teaching.
Despite being in her 23rd year of teaching, Doggett got a degree in Marine Biology & Marine Fisheries from Texas A&M University at Galveston, with no original plan to pursue teaching. However, her college roommate’s mother soon sparked an interest by inviting her to tutor.
“My mother was a teacher and she said, ‘Honey, you can do whatever you want, just don’t be a teacher,’ because she knew much time and energy and effort went into it,” Doggett said. “So, when I went with my friend to tutor these elementary school kids I really loved it and kept going.”
Doggett would proceed to work at the education department of Moody Gardens and the Dallas Zoo for seven years, where she enjoyed teaching wildlife facts to visitors. Realizing her love for education, in 2002 she would get her teaching certificate and begin teaching Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) at Coppell High School.
“I taught IPC, Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Aquatic Sciences for a long time and now biology,” Doggett said. “Aquatic Sciences is near and dear to my heart, but I do love teaching freshmen because they are funny and inquisitive.”
Her passion for marine biology is evident from just stepping into her classroom, where you can find a variety of marine skeletons, including a real walrus skull.
“I try to bring as much of my experience into the classroom because I don’t have a typical background as a teacher,” Doggett said. “For example, I used to work with rehabilitating dolphins, raising penguins and researching sea otters. I can bring those experiences into the classroom.”
Gifted and talented Biology freshman Alexis Hester appreciates Doggett’s candor and engaging teaching style.
“Her honesty is the most unique thing about her,” Hester said. “She isn’t scared in the slightest to tell us about her, and she makes the classroom a community accepting of everyone’s issues.”
Despite her love for the Aquatic Science course at Coppell High School, Doggett chose to teach at CHS9 when it opened as she believed she could make a greater impact to help create future STEM students.
“Sometimes I have students reach out to me about their achievements and I love that,” Doggett said. “Most of all, what I want my students to get out of my class is that we are biology, it’s our health.”
CHS junior and former gifted and talented biology student Sivaank Pothukoochi cites Doggett’s emphasis on analytical thinking within her classes.
“A lot of people say biology is all about memorization, but it’s a lot about understanding as well, and she was very good at showing us the distinction between both,” Pothukoochi said. “In general, she has a lot of very open conversations with people about biology which makes it really easy to connect with her.”
Doggett, who sponsors the CHS9 Art Club, is artistically inclined herself and teaches beginner pottery to adults at Twisted Clay pottery studio every Saturday morning for the past three years. She has also had a long time interest in photography.
“I’ve actually had former students in my class before, which is really fun,” Doggett said. “I love the nature part of photography. I’ve had an opportunity to work with a professional photographer named Robert Mihovil, which also lets me understand what it’s like to learn through experience.“
Doggett strives to teach students to think for themselves in an ever-changing world, which she achieves by helping organize student STEM travel opportunities with EF Tours at CHS9. From conservation efforts in Belize, to geothermal energy in Iceland to sustainable agriculture in Italy and France, these tours offer leadership and character growth to students.
“If you can apply information, critically think on your own and make good decisions based on real information, you can make better decisions for yourself,” Doggett said. “Travel is such a great opportunity for students to get out of the Coppell bubble and interact with other people in a safe way.”
Even across the world, Doggett uses every tool at her disposal to mold future STEM enthusiasts.
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