Living all across the United States, working in many different environments and eventually going back to school were all paths that Revere High School (RHS) teacher Paul Fisher dabbled in. Now, early in the morning, the alarm rings, waking up the RHS science teacher Paul Fisher. He climbs out of bed and gets ready to teach his students biology.
Fisher is a dedicated science teacher and has spent years igniting a passion for science in his students. Known for his experiments, engaging classroom discussions, and commitment to making complex scientific concepts accessible, Fisher has become a beloved figure on campus. Beyond the curriculum, he encourages students to think critically about the world around them. As both a mentor and an innovator, Fisher’s influence is helping to shape the next generation of students at RHS.
Students appreciate Fisher for transforming the study of science into an engaging, hands-on experience. With his innovative teaching methods and genuine passion, Fisher is determined to show students that science is more than just theories and textbooks; it is an exploration of the world around us. Fisher did not always want to be a teacher though, and his path started from a very different point.
“When I graduated from college, I had a degree in biology, not education. . . . My first year, I worked at a lab at the University of Iowa for a pulmonologist, a lung doctor. I did mainly genetic research on the causes of asthma and lung cancer and publishing research. It was lots of fun,” Fisher said.
With interest to continue his passion, but in need of a change of environment, Fisher moved to a new state and obtained another job doing research.
“I moved to Ohio and got a job at Case Western Reserve Medical school, and I worked for a dermatologist there, a skin doctor. We did very similar stuff. We did experiments, looking at cancer research, poison ivy effects and a number of other things related to the skin. . . . I was mainly a technician where I was performing the experiments that the lead scientists were coming up with. I did some genetic stuff with DNA.
I worked with living tissues. I worked with mice. There was a lot of interesting stuff I did,” he said.
Although Fisher loved the style of work and the working environment, he felt there was something missing. He began searching for a new job, and that is when he discovered his love for teaching.
“I was looking for a career that was a little more fulfilling, and I had spent some time working with youth . . . outside of my job [at the labs]. I really found that valuable, and the idea that I could take my love of science and biology and how much I enjoy working with students to find those two together, seemed like it could fit for me.” Fisher said.
While trying to obtain a teaching license, Fisher continued to work odd jobs while going to school full time at the University of Akron.
”I got my masters degree and science education while I was working odd jobs. I was a substitute, I was a research assistant for an education professor and I was a bartender. I had lots of interesting jobs,” he said.
Eventually, Fisher landed in the Revere school system teaching Biology to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students. He is now able to blend his love for interacting with students with his passion for biology. Jeff Shane, a fellow educator at RHS and the Science department head, highlights Fisher’s unique ability to make science accessible and relatable.
“He is an excellent teacher. I hear wonderful things from the kids about how he teaches and how well he relates things to kids so they can understand it.
He’s very patient. They always talk about how much more patient he is than I am, but he’s also a wonderful person. . . . when he’s with his peers and his colleagues, he’s just as kind as he is with the kids, so it’s not fake, that’s who he is. He’s a good guy,” Shane said.
While Shane is able to talk about his teaching style based on what his students say, he is not able to experience it first hand. Michelle Weng, a senior at RHS, takes Fisher’s Advanced Placement Biology class.
“I like how he actually cares about his students because he always asks about what we’re doing outside of school, and he keeps up with out of school activities. His way of implementing subtle humor into his lectures keeps me engaged, and his labs tie into the lessons really well and allows us to get hands-on experience with what he’s teaching.” Weng said.
Fisher continues to further his education as much as he possibly can while teaching at RHS. He maintains a relationship with his kids and family while pursuing his passion for teaching.
