Alyssa Waters, a new biology teacher from Orlando, Florida, is looking forward to teaching students in person after supervising online classes for the past four years.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are ballet, cooking, bird watching, hiking, gardening, and all things Harry Potter.

Ballet? That’s pretty interesting. When did you start?

I started when I was just two years old.

Is it difficult?

Yes, it really is. The technique is hard to master and it varies on your body type. Nobody moves the same way. I’ve participated in some competitions and I’ve also been in some plays, such as The Nutcracker and Giselle. I have also been in a ballet-themed wedding photo shoot.

That’s so cool. How did you ever develop an interest in science?

To be honest, I never had an interest in science until fifth grade. I won an award at a science fair and I met this doctor who taught me all about cells and cancer. Since then, science became my thing.

How does online teaching work?

It’s basically a self-paced class that’s posted on a website. Students go by their own pace but every assignment has a due date. When the kids wouldn’t turn their things in, it was the most annoying thing. I had to call them constantly and be their personal stalkers. And when that didn’t work, they’d be kicked out.

Lastly, what are you looking forward to by teaching here?

I look forward to actually working with kids in person because I’ve been working with students online for four years. I’m pretty much done with that.