“You can always find groups of Peddie students supporting and inspiring each other,” said biology teacher Meredith Salmon. “Many students serve as role models for their classmates and are always willing to set an example for others to follow. These students lead by example and have a very positive influence on the entire campus community.”

Salmon leads by example at Peddie every day. She graduated summa cum laude from the honors program at Bloomsburg University with a degree in secondary education in biology and holds a master’s degree in biology from Washington University in St. Louis. Salmon teaches Biology, Honors Biology, Marine Science and Quantitative Chemistry, but her contributions to Peddie’s community go far beyond the classroom. She’s a soccer coach, basketball coach and a dorm supervisor. She's also the faculty advisor for the Peddie Environmental & Sustainability Team, or PEST. Her passion for ecology and conservation studies leads her to studies of tropical marine ecosystems in exotic locales. She brings that passion and positive energy with her in everything she does.

In Salmon’s biology classes, she works to ensure that students get the most out of the resources available at Peddie. “Peddie students are involved in a discovery-based science program and are challenged to think outside the box,” she said. “Thanks to our state-of-the-art facility and resources, we have the ability to conduct laboratory experiments that allow students to devise a hypothesis, record observations, analyze data and draw conclusions from their work. Being fully involved in the scientific process not only promotes critical thinking skills, but it also encourages students to facilitate their own learning and apply what they have learned to the real world.”

Salmon makes the most of these resources too, designing inventive lessons such as the hands-on evolution experience that she co-taught alongside colleagues. However, she credits the students with this energetic environment. “These students are willing to pursue their passions and explore new interests, and I believe that speaks volumes about how Peddie influences their desire to succeed.”