Biography

Claire Pichette has been a science teacher at Helena High School for the past 14 years. She got her start as an outdoor educator for the Montana Outdoor Science School in the early 2000's and hasn't looked back since. She currently teaches Project Lead the Way Principles of Biomedical Sciences, which is an elective for grades 9-12, and Biology I for 10th grade students, but has also taught Earth Science, Environmental Studies, and Honors Biology at HHS. As a coach for the school’s Science Olympiad and Envirothon teams, Claire enjoys helping students prepare to compete at state and national levels. Her favorite activities involve getting outdoors in the field to learn and teach about Montana’s natural resources and management. She recently joined the Montana Tech Intermountain Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (IJSHS) judging team and has loved seeing the amazing graduate-level projects designed and completed by high school students. With funding from the National Institutes of Health, Claire worked with researchers from Montana Tech and the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program to help students learn about bacteriophages and how they can be used to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis. This opportunity provided students with real-life, hands-on scientific research experience and exposure to graduate-level laboratory science in the classroom. Claire earned a B.A. in biological sciences from Willamette University, then switched to the education path with a B.S. in biological sciences, a B.S. in secondary education, and a Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) from Montana State University. She is certified in broadfield science and health professions—therapeutics.