For nearly 20 years, Scott Godwin has taught science in the Flagstaff Unified School District. Today, as a seventh-grade science teacher at Mount Elden Middle School, he believes one of the most important parts of science education has little to do with the facts.
Instead, it starts with curiosity.
“The really great part about science is the inquiry,” Godwin said. “Getting students to not have to have the exact right answer every time but coming up with a lot of good questions.”
Godwin moved to Flagstaff in 1989 to attend Northern Arizona University. Although he originally studied sociology and later math education, he eventually found his way into science teaching. His mathematics background continues to influence his classroom, helping students understand the connections between disciplines and how scientific discoveries are made.
While Godwin enjoys teaching environmental science and exploring topics such as weather systems, much of his recent work has focused on making science more inclusive for students from diverse backgrounds. Through NAU’s Institute for Native American Educators, he explored ways to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge alongside Western scientific knowledge in the classroom.
Earlier this year, Godwin and a colleague presented their work on Indigenous STEM education for the Arizona Department of Education. The presentation highlighted strategies for incorporating culture into science lessons and creating learning environments that ensure students feel represented.
“When students feel that the classroom is theirs, they start engaging more,” Godwin said. “And they ask such beautiful questions.”
According to Godwin, students become more invested in science when they can see connections between their own lives and the material being taught. Bringing Indigenous scientists, engineers and perspectives into classroom discussions helps students recognize that science is not limited to a single culture or group of people.
Flagstaff’s diverse population makes that work especially meaningful. At Mount Elden Middle School, students come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including Native American, Hispanic and other communities throughout Northern Arizona. Godwin believes science education should reflect those experiences.
“The only way we get that is when everyone feels that they have a place at the table,” he said.
Outside the classroom, Godwin enjoys reading, building Lego sets and spending time outdoors among Flagstaff’s ponderosa pine forests. After two decades of teaching, he says the most rewarding part of his job remains learning from others, whether they are researchers, community partners or his own students.
For Godwin, science is ultimately about asking questions, listening and remaining open to new ideas. By helping students see themselves in science, he hopes to inspire the next generation of curious thinkers and problem-solvers.
