Photo of Ms. Helm. Dark hair and white shirt.

My name is Ms. Helm. I am the Science Teacher for Decatur Virtual Academy (DVA). This is my 5th year with the DVA. Prior to that, I worked 10 years at Cedar Ridge Middle School (now called Austin Middle) teaching 7th grade Science. 

I earned my BS from Oregon State University in Environmental Science with a minor in Fisheries and Wildlife and Chemistry in 2005. I then earned my Masters degree from Alabama A&M in Biology Education in 2009.

Before becoming a teacher, I worked as a Wildlife Biologist conducting research in Arizona for Oregon State University on Giant Water Bugs and in Idaho on the Kootenai Reservation as a professional fisherman catching and breeding the endangered White Sturgeon. I loved being hands on with the animals! But most of the fun stuff happens in the summer. Then the animals migrate or hibernate, hence me teaching during the off-season.