Syracuse Sun

Tyna Meeks-Siptrott, Ph.D., is retiring after a transformative 28-year teaching career at Indian River High School in Upstate New York. Throughout her tenure, she made significant contributions to education, leveraging her relationship with Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) to bring college-level courses to her students.

Meeks-Siptrott's journey with SUPA began in her first year of teaching when she received an invitation to teach college courses. She recalls, “I remember my very first year as a newly hired teacher at Indian River and a little postcard was in my mailbox that said, ‘Have you considered teaching college courses?’” Meeks-Siptrott subsequently underwent training with SUPA and started teaching SU chemistry, a course she has taught for 27 years.

Her collaboration expanded when Professor Jim Spencer invited her to participate in a pilot program for Forensic Science, adding a second SU chemistry course to her repertoire. Her research career started with projects at SU aimed at creating military coatings and detecting antibiotics, which eventually led her to a defining moment in science education.

"A unique gift to quickly make a deep connection with her students," is how Professor Spencer describes Meeks-Siptrott. Her ability to engage students was evident through the active learning lessons she developed with Spencer for large lecture halls, although the outcomes varied across demographic groups.

Meeks-Siptrott's creative teaching methods, like a forensic science project involving hands-on evidence collection, had a profound impact on her students, some of whom pursued science careers. Former student Deanna Chavez reached out years later, recalling her class experience and seeking Meeks-Siptrott’s insights for a media project.

She emphasizes learning together with her students, stating, “If that means that you’re learning together, that’s okay because they love to see you in that scenario.”

As she transitions to retirement, Meeks-Siptrott advises future educators to embrace the new challenges fearlessly and says, “No fear. You’re doing this because you love the students, and you want to bring them something new."

Reflecting on her career, Meeks-Siptrott remarks, “I always said that I would know when I was ready to leave. I want to depart with the same joy with which I began.” Her legacy at Indian River High School and SUPA continues through her enduring dedication and innovative approaches in education.