Teacher - Science Email Phone: (715) 424-6750 Hi. My name is Kevin Jorgensen. I've been teaching high school science in the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools since 2005. I have taught a wide range of courses (7th-grade science, Natural Resources, CNS 9, CNS 10, and Principles of Biology) and at one point I was traveling between East Junior High and Lincoln High School.
I'm originally from Appleton, WI, and a graduate of Appleton East High School. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Chemistry Minor. After graduating from UW- Stevens Point I headed out West and worked at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory-Marine Sciences Laboratory (PNNL) in Sequim, Washington. While at PNNL I participated in marine ecological studies focusing on successful transplanting of eelgrass (Zostera marina L) beds as part of a mitigation project with the Washington State Department of Transportation. As part of this project, I led a study looking at the effects of overwater structures on the movement of salmonid fish. Upon the completion of my study, I returned to UW-Stevens Point and earned my Master's Degree in Natural Resources-Fisheries Biology. My thesis research was A Comparison of Diurnal and Nocturnal Brood Care Behaviors in Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus).
My wife and I live in Plover, WI along with our two daughters (they attend SPASH) and two dogs. When I'm not teaching I like to go SCUBA diving, water skiing, bike riding, motorcycle riding, fishing, playing drums, guitar and reading.
I have a passion for shark conservation, ecology, and behavioral research. In July 2018 I spent two weeks in South Africa with Apex Shark Expeditions out of Simon's Town on a Natural Predation Expedition in False Bay off Seal Island. This is the location where the Air Jaws episodes of Shark Week have been filmed. The expedition was led by Chris and Monique Fallows who was the first to capture on film breaching great white sharks catching cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) off Seal Island. There were a total of ten participants from around the world. We observed shark breaching on seals and seal decoys. In addition, I spent several days and hours in a shark cage diving with great white sharks. It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to return.
In addition to teaching, I was an assistant football coach at SPASH (5 years) and then at Lincoln High School for 5 years. I had the fortune of coaching Vince Biegal and coaching in the WIAA Division 1 Football State Championship game.