Cara Pekarcik received her Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology from Southampton College of Long Island University in 2001. Upon graduation, Cara began working as a staff scientist at The Whale Center of New England, a non-profit research organization in Gloucester, MA, where she studied demographics and behavior of large whales (specifically humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae). Cara’s responsibilities also included the role of educator/naturalist onboard thousands of whale watches. Her enthusiasm for this aspect of the job steered her towards a career as a high school science teacher and in 2006 Cara began teaching at North Quincy High School (NQHS) in Quincy, MA. She received her Masters in Secondary Education (Biology) from UMass Boston in 2011. She brings her field experience to the various levels of general biology, physical science, marine science, and zoology she teaches, including incorporating an annual whale watch into her curriculum and conducting a seal necropsy with her students. She also coaches volleyball and serves as the school adviser for the National Honor Society Chapter at NQHS. In her time away from work, Cara loves to read, kayak, travel (especially to National Parks), spend time with family and friends, and explore the outdoors.
Quincy, MA
United States