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Hello, my name is Joe Navarro and let me welcome you to Western Sierra.

I am teaching Biology, Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, Sports Medicine II and Advanced Kinesiology, and Honors Sports Medicine III and Medical Diagnostics. I also teach our dual enrollment courses through Sierra College including HSCI 0003 Medical Terminology and next year HSCI 0007 Emergency Medical Responder. Through my courses I am honored to be part of the team laying the foundations for scientific inquiry and medical literacy, taking students to the college level of Biology, and serving our wolf pack through the sports medicine program.

Before teaching I worked in historical research and archaeology then moved to the fire service, getting my first certification (EMT-B) in 1999. I also got my bachelor's in Anthropology and History from CU Boulder (GO BUFFS!!!!!) and my Master's in Education from NU. Through the years, I earned my HAZMAT technician, Critical Care Paramedic, EMS Primary Instructor, and many others, leaving public safety to continue my education in 2015. From 2008 to 2015, I taught EMT-B, IV therapy, ECG Interpretation, Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, M.I.B.C., and Medical Laboratory Methods at the community college level. I have earned credentials in Health Science, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences. I love working with high school and middle school level students and am honored to be on the faculty to start my sixth year here at Western Sierra.  

We are also working to push forward educational research with our Life Science Teacher Perception Project which is seeking input from thousands of teachers nationwide. It is an honor to work with research-minded faculty here who look to bring the best in educational methods to our students. We are also able to provide students with opportunities to learn how education research is conducted and give them opportunities as research assistants. I am also pursuing my Ed.D. at Sac State and looking to study medical and health literacy formation in high schoolers along with how best to promote those skills in our future citizens to increase public health. 

We will be using Google Classroom as the primary forward-looking communication platform and PowerSchool as the rearward-looking platform. Google Classroom has posts about current activities and future deadlines and PowerSchool shows posted grades. The best way for guardians and parents to get all the information is to sign up with your accounts and sit down with their students to review their portals as they are different.

Please feel free to contact me with any issues you might have over the year, and parents/guardians remember to carbon copy your students on correspondence. I also have office hours each week as listed on my syllabi. Have a great year!

Link to the Sports Medicine Website

WOLVES, WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?