As the laboratory assistant for the school’s science research program, Dr. Juliana Caulkins, has been settling into the Heritage lifestyle for about two years. Now, she is now ready to dig her hands into teaching full-time.
Dr. Caulkins is a native Brazilian who only recently moved from her hometown in São Paulo to South Florida with her husband, two sons and daughter.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Santa Catarina and a Doctorate in Biotechnology from the University of São Paulo. Soon after, Dr. Caulkins began working at the government administration known as Centro Paula Souza, which focuses on building technological education, as a chemistry professor for 11 years.
She has always been working in laboratories and instructing talented students. As a newer resident of the U.S., she’s found comfort in the school laboratory working alongside Mrs. Leya Joykutty through the summers and falls. The two spend their days and some nights even, helping student researchers come up with, develop, carry out and present their science fair projects.
As Mrs. Joykutty is leaving Heritage this school year, Dr. Caulkins has stepped up to the bat, and will now be teaching from the same room. While Mrs. Joykutty previously taught biology, Dr. Caulkins will be teaching College-prep and Honors Chemistry classes.
“I have always loved my room as a teacher during the day of course,” Mrs. Joykutty said. “But after school, I saw students as they interacted with each other, made friends and worked in a team and got to really be a mentor to those who needed it. I’m happy to be passing this joy on to Dr. Caulkins.”
“Even after being a Chemistry teacher in Brazil for 11 years, I still think that teaching at Heritage will be a great challenge,” Dr. Caulkins said. “I feel a mix of excitement and butterflies in my stomach for this coming fall,” she said.
