Bridger is Sussex School’s newest 5th–8th Grade STEM Teacher. Bridger is originally from
Wyoming. He comes to Sussex School most recently from Fundación Colegio Americano de Quito in Quito, Ecuador, where he planned and implemented a comprehensive secondary science curriculum based on the Next Generation Science Standards and served as the 7th-grade team leader and team-mentor teacher.
This summer, we sat down with him and asked a few more questions about his love of STEM, teaching, and some tidbits about his life!
SS: What are your top three favorite elements of teaching STEM?
Bridger: I love that STEM allows for so much real-world problem-solving! I'm excited to help students question the local Missoula area and then learn how to find answers using science and technology.
SS: Was there an educator in your life who has inspired you?
Bridger: An educator who has inspired me in life is (surprise, surprise!) my middle school science teacher. She created a space for us to spend time after school asking any science questions we had and building personal projects in her room.
SS: What would we be surprised to know about you?
Bridger: You would be surprised to know that last year my wife and I lived in a van for six months.
SS: If you could have a meal with any person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
Bridger: I would love to have a meal with Patrick Rothfuss and ask him when I can expect the "Doors of Stone" to be released!
SS: What do you like to do in your free time?
Bridger: I like to read, run, and rock climb!
SS: What was the last book you read?
Bridger: The last book I read is called “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.