Mrs. McDowell is excited to be starting her seventh year working with the talented students at CTHS.  She grew up in Maryland and graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA with a bachelor's degree in biology and a minor in chemistry.  She subsequently earned a MS Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from the same university.  With a passion for life long learning she earned a Post Master's Certificate in Chemistry from Montana State and in 2017 her National Board Teaching Certificate.  Mrs. McDowell has taught various science and photography classes in Virginia, Maryland, California and Alaska.  She currently teaches Chemistry and AP Chemistry.  Recently, she enjoyed a summer as a NSF RET that included field research at Colorado State and at Toolik Longterm Ecological Research Station.

In her free time Mrs. McDowell enjoys the outdoors through hiking, fishing, running, and photography, especially when those events include time with her family.