Ursula Pece is one of many biology teachers at Hayfield Secondary. However, she’s unlike most teachers. She works endlessly and starts her day at 3 a.m., to share her passion for science. The time and effort she dedicates to teaching is something all Hayfield students should applaud.

Pece started out as a college professor, but chose to step down to the highschool level. She noticed undergraduates were missing a fundamental understanding of biology. Pece believes that if you have a basic understanding of science, you will be very successful in the future.

“That’s where I could make the most difference in teaching science,” Pece said.

Pece begins her day while most of the world is asleep. She wakes up at three in the morning and begins working. She spends two hours reviewing previous lessons, to make them relevant and interesting for students. She spends a little time to herself and arrives at Hayfield by 6:30 am.

She then prepares for a day of lessons. Pece sets the room up for labs, meets with other teachers, and updates SIS. During the day she’s teaching classes.

“I look at teaching a little bit like being on the stage,” Pece said.

Pece always takes a few moments before beginning a lecture to determine the goal and focus of a lesson. There’s some psyching up that happens before going in front of students and teaching.

“I like to try and bring in new discoveries, new images, things that are actually going on right now and when I can, I have students share their experiences,” Pece said.

Biology has many complicated concepts and it can be difficult to keep students focused on lessons. Pece always designs her lessons to engage, and spark the interests of highschool students. She often uses analogies such as ‘biology being a story’, to make biological processes understandable.

“I’m a cosponsor of Hayfield Best Buddies and then also a cosponsor of the national science honors society,” Pece said.

Pece helps with a program that helps students with intellectual disabilities feel more connected to their peers and spends more time doing science related activities with the SNHS. She stays after school at least three days a week to help students who may be struggling in class or need to make up for an exam.

Pece finally drives home at 5:30 and then does another hour of prep work. Afterwards, her time is spent with her husband and sons. She then goes to sleep and does it all over again.

“There’s this moment when a student ‘gets it’, we can see it in your faces. It fills my bucket,” Pece said.

Dedicating over 12 hours daily to teaching is unimaginable, but Pece believes that those moments where students truly comprehend science is all the motivation she needs.

Pece is a talented teacher and spends every free moment studying, preparing, or teaching. Her devotion has made a difference for so many students, who have been lucky enough to be taught by her.