Emily O’Loughlin has been teaching chemistry at Ida B. Wells High School for 6 years. Born and raised in Portland, OR, she received her bachelor’s in chemistry and master’s in teaching from the University of Portland. Before going into teaching, she originally wanted to be a pediatric doctor, but she discovered her love of helping others through tutoring. “I really enjoyed taking a class that’s really hard for a lot of people and breaking it down, so it wasn’t as daunting,” says O’Loughlin. Notably for her, the IBW science department and its teachers are very collaborative and supportive. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors in the nature of SW Portland, singing and cuddling with her cat, Izzy.

Written by Neea Mende, Intro to Communications, Spring 2024