Editor’s note: We decided to profile Marybeth Coen to get inside the head of the Killough campus Teacher of the Year.

SNAPSHOTS

Worst color combination: Orange and Pink

Do you believe in aliens? No

If you were a cartoon character from Disney, who would you be? Belle from “Beauty and the Beast”

3 things you would save in a fire: My daughter, my dog, our external hard drive.

If you could be someone else, who would you be? A retired rich person

ZOOMING IN:

Q: Who/what inspired you to become a biology teacher?

A: “Dr. Walker inspired me to be a teacher. She was my physiology/PALS teacher in high school. She really pushed me in that direction. As far as biology, science was my favorite so that is what I decided to go with.”

Q: What has been the funniest thing that has happened to you while you were teaching?

A: “My kids had finished early and I left the room to go grab some coffee because I had made a different assignment for them. I was gone for maybe 30 seconds and I came back to continue talking. Everyone just started laughing and I had no idea what was going on, and apparently while I was out of the room the four guys in the classroom had moved my desk all the way across the room and I didn’t even notice. I just kept talking like nothing was going on.”

Q: If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?

A: “I would probably be boring and save most of it. I would definitely buy a new car.”

Q: What is one pet peeve about teaching a class?

A: “My biggest pet peeve is when the students take something and don’t put it back where they found it. I know it’s a small thing but it drives me crazy.”

Q: What helps you get through each day at school?

A: “It used to be coffee, but since I’m pregnant I can’t drink that anymore so I’m barely surviving. I would have to say just the relationships I have with the other teachers here help me get through each day.”

Q: What do you think made you stand out to get the teacher of the year award?

A: “I think everyone at this campus goes above and beyond so I’m not trying to be better than everybody else, but a lot of what I do is behind the scenes. I do a lot of work for my team. I think when you don’t ask for appreciation or expect it people want to give that to you.”

Q: Do you believe in everything you teach?

A: “Sometimes I wish I could spend more time on things that are more important and less time on some things that are less important, but I believe in everything I teach.”