Before you read on, how well do you know Watershed’s Chelsea? Take our quiz to find out!
Q&A with Chelsea Zaniboni
Q: Where are you from? How long have you been in Boulder?
Chelsea Zaniboni: I’ve been in Boulder just over a year. I am originally from California, but prior to this I lived in Honolulu, HI where I went to graduate school for education and taught middle and high school science for five years. Three years ago, I visited my mom in Nebraska and we road-tripped to Boulder. We caught the first snow of the season as it coated the fall colors; I fell in love and began plotting my eventual island escape to the Rockies.
Q: What is your position at Watershed and how long have you been at the school?
CZ: I am a middle school science educator; this is my first year at Watershed.
Q: Briefly tell us about your home life.
CZ: I live with my partner, Graham, and our two pups, Nala and Meli.
Q: Generally speaking, what’s your personal teaching philosophy?
CZ: The overarching goal of my practice is for students to develop a greater appreciation for, curiosity about and involvement in the world around them. I hope for students to take the skills and content learned in my classes and apply them to ever-changing and relevant challenges.
Q: What’s something new you learned, dabbled in or did a lot of during the Coronavirus lock-down?
CZ: We got a puppy (Meli) the day before lockdown, so she kept us busy for much of the first few months. I also built out new cabinets for our camper and caught up on lots and lots of reading!
Q: What is your professional background?
CZ: I have a BA in Biology and a MEd with a focus on Instructional Leadership. I spent a short time in Biotechnology sales before entering the field of education. I taught middle and high school science in Hawaii for five years and more recently taught high school science at Green Valley Ranch High School in Northeast Denver.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Watershed?
CZ: I love the small community feel of Watershed; in such a short time I have gotten to know so much of the student body, at least in the middle school, and the whole staff quite well. I also love that teachers can bring their dogs; this, along with the great people, makes for such an uplifting environment.
Q: What are you most excited about for this school year?
CZ: I’m excited to get out in the field; at larger schools field work is much more difficult to coordinate, and the freedom to incorporate meaningful community engagement, expert talks, and service learning into classes is a huge opportunity.
Q: Is there anything you are “known” for or do a little different as an educator?
CZ: Historically, I gave a dorky test speech before any test or quiz. My first-year students still message me with the last words of the speech, “you can do it!” I also spend way too much time finding applicable gifs for my slides and love taking brain breaks to watch weird and cute animal videos.
Q: What’s a quirky, interesting or unique thing about you that people might not know or realize?
CZ: I love rodents and Disney movies.
Q: What’s your favorite non-school related activity or hobby?
CZ: I grew up surfing competitively, but that’s a little difficult here in Colorado, so I have since taken up as many mountain sports as possible. I love to run, mountain bike, hike, ski, snowshoe, and climb.
Q: What made you want to teach at Watershed?
CZ: I am very excited to be at a smaller school where we can adapt our curriculum to the ever changing needs in our community and world. The close-knit relationships and emphasis on meaningful learning so heavily outweighs conventional schooling in my mind, and opens up the door for so many great opportunities.
Q: Favorite book of all time and why?
CZ: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer; it is an absolutely beautiful blend of science and traditional Indigenous knowledge. Kimmerer illustrates beautifully the gifts we receive from our earth and how we can give back to cultivate a relationship with nature based on reciprocity.
Q: Favorite TV show, movie or musician and why?
CZ: I just love The Office. It’s hard not to laugh at Michael Scott.
