Josh Edwards has been teaching in the Chandler Unified District for a decade—he recently began his 11th year at a new school, Andersen Jr. High School. He has taught eighth grade general science, engineering, gifted mathematics and gifted science classes in the distwrict.
Edwards is an Arizona native. He says that back when he was in school, he never thought he would become a teacher. He attended ASU and received his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology.
“I sought out the medical field as a career path. Before entering Physical Therapy school in 2011, I took a year to do corrective exercise and ensure that path was the right one for me,” Edwards explains. That experience led him in a new direction.
“I noticed that sharing my advice and being a positive interaction for those kids felt like meaningful work,” he shares. When a parent complimented Edwards and expressed that he “would make a good teacher, I looked into the profession and never looked back.”
Edwards went on to get his master’s in Education and has certifications in mathematics and science. This year he is teaching engineering and technology classes as he builds up a robotics program at Andersen. He has been teaching Project Lead The Way’s STEM curriculum, including design and robotics, for the past few years.
Edwards was nominated by former student Charlie.
Charlie writes, “I loved his teaching style. He really cares about the students.”
Making students feel valued in his classroom is a goal for
Edwards. “I am mindful of facilitating a class that will give students the best chance for a successful path, wherever they choose to go,” he writes in his educational philosophy.
That does not mean the path should be easy, he says, because easy does not equal satisfying.
With over 10 years teaching junior high, Edwards notes that strange or funny things happen a lot. One that sticks out for him? Recently “I had to say from across my classroom, ‘Young man, please stop rubbing that lemon on your face,’ ” he recalls.
What would Edwards do if he was not in the classroom or on the field? Maybe he would be on the stage.
“I wish I could sing and dance well, and I am terribly jealous of anyone that can do either,“ he says.
