4 minute read
Naiyma Houston
Inspiring next generation of scientists
Marianne Ratcliff | editor@ojaivalleynews.com
Naiyma Houston did not take a direct route to her Nordhoff High School science classroom. She made several stops along the way as a scientist, including working for one of the world’s largest independent biotech companies — Amgen in Thousand Oaks.
After a day of teaching in her spacious classroom dotted with microscopes, the award-winning educator described her journey. Houston’s love for science was nurtured by her Cerritos High School teachers and the school’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program (MESA). When Houston enrolled at UCLA with her identical twin sister, she wanted to study biomedical engineering, but her interest changed. She recalled hearing a scientist at Genentech speak at a conference about how much he loved his job. “His talk really resonated with me,” Houston said, so she asked herself: “What can I change my major to, so I can work in a lab like that guy?” Searching through the course catalogue, she chose microbiology and molecular genetics. Working in a biochemistry department research lab her freshman year, followed by a summer internship at a research lab at Cornell fueled her desire to be a scientist.
While Houston applied for research associate positions after graduation, her mother — a retired school principal — suggested she apply to be a substitute teacher at ABC Unified School District in Cerritos. Houston was hired the next day to be a long-term substitute, teaching seventh- and eighth-grade math. “I liked it!” she said, and that was a problem. “At the end of the year, I was really conflicted about what I should do.” Although she decided to pursue a career in research, Houston thought she might someday return to teaching. Her next stop was UC Irvine as a research associate with a scientist working on a novel tick vaccine. She then applied to Amgen, where she worked for six years as a research associate in the Protein Science Department. She went on to work for two more companies as a project manager of clinical trials at Genzyme Genetics, and Quest Diagnostic Clinical Trials. After a while, she said she realized her work as a project manager “had gotten too far from the science. I did some soul-searching and asked myself, ‘What do I want to do? What is fulfilling me?’” When she realized, “I actually like teaching others about science,” she started Upper Hand to College to increase girls’ and women’s interest in science, technology, engineering and math, holding conferences at colleges around the state. In 2015, she applied to teach biology at Nordhoff High School. “As soon as I started teaching, I found my happy place,” she said. “I was really fulfilled. It was just a joy sharing my passion for biology with students. After my first year, I knew I definitely wanted to continue teaching.” She is now director of Nordhoff’s Health Science Academy and teaches biology, honors biology, integrated physical sciences, medical terminology and emergency medicine. Her inspired teaching earned her the 2019 VC Innovates Pathfinder Award for Nordhoff High School from the Ventura County Office of Education, in the field of health science and medical terminology. “Naiyma loves what she does and it’s really contagious,” said Nordhoff Principal David Monson. “She is kind and compassionate” and listens to her students.
“My message to students is just to always pursue their interests,” Houston said. “If you’re interested in the sciences, there are so many career options available to you. … If you follow your interest, that’s where happiness and fulfillment lie.”
The pandemic has put science front and center. Since Houston’s favorite subject is molecular biology, she has been able to teach how COVID-19 tests and vaccines work. “I knew there would be an effective vaccine,” she said.
When Houston is not teaching, she is traveling, even taking Nordhoff students to Iceland a couple of years ago. Plans for students to travel to Switzerland and Germany this summer were curtailed by the pandemic, but Houston is looking forward to more globe-trotting adventures. Houston and her husband share their Oxnard Shores home with their Bichon Frise named Lily, and Brisa, a chihuahua. Swimming, camping, hiking and cooking are some of her favorite pastimes. (Just ask her about her seafood gumbo and herb and mushroom lasagna!) She is also an aunt to her sister’s 8-year-old fraternal twin daughters. Houston and her sister’s success was nurtured by their parents who “instilled a good, strong work ethic in both of us,” Houston said. “Education was always important in the house.” Doing well in school was important, but, she said her parents’ main message was “work your hardest.”
