Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year.  My name is Mrs. Kari Cruze. This is my eleventh year teaching at Franklin County High School.  I have a degree in Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) 7-12 from Western Governor's University. I have taught mostly physical science, but also biology, chemistry, and psychology over the last 10 years. This year I am teaching only ecology.  

Prior to teaching, I was an Army wife living at Fort Hood, TX. Before that I served 6 years in the United States Navy as a Fire Controlman on the USS Leyte Gulf (CG55). I have been to several different countries on deployments. I am originally from El Paso, TX, but I have lived in many different places because my family was military as I was growing up. The last and longest place was Myrtle Beach, SC. 

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, drawing, and crocheting. I love to travel but I am not a very outdoorsy person. I LOVE science documentaries and have even gotten my husband to watch a few. :D 

In our class students will have the opportunity to apply many different scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies to the study of the environment and its vast number of ecosystems and biomes. Students will study the interrelationships of the natural world, analyze environmental problems and evaluate solutions for resolving and preventing these problems. Students will be participating in lab activities that enforce each topic from the lectures such as biotic and abiotic factors, producers and consumers and feeding relationships in different environments.

We will have significant opportunities to achieve success in our pursuit of being 21st century learners.  The key to opening the door to these opportunities is a deep understanding of important inquiry skills like observing qualities, measuring quantities, sorting/classifying, inferring, predicting, experimenting, and communicating.  Be prepared for a fun-filled year of science with me!