KELLEY GORMAN

Growing up in Philadelphia, Middle School Science Teacher Kelley Gorman loved animals and dreamed about being a veterinarian—until she realized she would have to give them shots and deal with the sadder side of the job! She is inspired and motivated by curiosity about the world, about others, and about scientific advancements. Kelley loved her high school AP psychology class and was surprised by how much she enjoyed a geology class in her freshman year at William & Mary. It inspired her to take more science courses and ultimately, she combined her main interests to earn a bachelor’s in environmental studies and psychology. Kelley’s mom and aunt were teachers, and Kelley has been working with children since she was a teenager as a babysitter, camp counselor, tutor, and coach. She says her SSSAS students are informed, witty, and genuinely curious! They keep her on her toes in the best of ways, and she loves it when their interests and personal stories teach her new things about their science lessons. Kelley is all about the simple things in life and making and maintaining connections. She likes being with friends and family, reading travel stories, gardening, taking wildlife photos, listening to podcasts, and playing sports. She’s into watching home renovation and design shows, but discovered what they make look so easy, definitely is not! She is keen to learn about construction techniques and learn how to flip a house, or at least be more knowledgeable about home repair! If she wasn’t teaching, she would definitely find a way to be involved with travel and wildlife adventures. Given the chance for a cup of tea and a conversation with a famous scientist, she would want to sit down with Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. Kelley is impressed with their immense courage—overcoming so many obstacles in their groundbreaking research of Great Apes—and has deep admiration for their passion and leadership in environmental conservation. Her dream scenario today would be traveling the world as a wildlife photographer, though she’d be more comfortable with the “glamping” than “camping” that would be required. In reality, Kelley has traveled far and wide with her camera in hand, to parts of Europe, South and Central America, many United States, the Arctic, and several countries in Southern Africa. She cherishes the relationships she has formed with fellow travelers and her guides, and the enriching conversations she’s had with all of them. Her top five trips include the incredibly close wildlife encounters she had in the Galapagos Islands; the famous natural landscapes of the Okavango Delta and Sossusvlei Dunes in Botswana and Namibia; seeing the endless ocean and polar bears in Svalbard, Norway in the Arctic; a glorious one-hour visit with a family of Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda; and the torrential downpours, canoeing and wildlife in the Amazon. She still hopes to visit Madagascar, Antarctica, Australia, and New Zealand. Skydiving in South Africa was by far the most adventurous thing she’s done. And her best travel tip? Don’t forget your slippers! It may sound quirky, but it’s the first thing she packs and a decision she never regrets.

What is the one thing in the world you would fix if you could wave a magic wand?
Helping everyone have a greater sense of empathy.

If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?
Power of flight, no-brainer. Free travel! (Can your luggage get the superpower, too?)

What one piece of advice would you offer anyone who asks?
Stay curious!

If you could switch lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
My students. I would love to truly know what it’s like to be a middle schooler these days.

What is your greatest strength?
Color-coding.  Haha! (I mean…not really, but life is so much easier when it’s organized!)

What is the best compliment someone can give you?
Their life is better because I’m in it.