The sweet scent of strawberries fills the air as students look through the lenses of the microscopes. Karen Walters, also known as Dr. Walters, starts all of her science labs in the same way: “Get your lab coats and notebooks!” Walters delights in labs just as much as she enjoys tending to her fresh vegetables in the garden, her chickens and horses. 

Not so new to FCS, Walters taught Biology, AP biology, Zoology and Anatomy for six years and is now returning to her previous position. She attended Cornell and UC Davis, earning a double major in Biology-Physiology and a PhD. After receiving her doctorate, she decided to enroll in a post doctorate program which gave her the opportunity to work and research in a position at UC Davis. 

Walters comes with an extensive background in teaching and working at schools including State Center Community College District, Clovis Community College, Reedley College and UC Davis. From the outside, students looking in may not know about the quirky and lively personality hiding behind the intimidating title of doctor.

Walters grew up living on a Saratoga farm in upstate New York, tending to the horses living down the road. Her passion for science developed in part due to the diverse climate of the land around her, bringing various species of animals and organisms to her front door. 

“I lived outside. I loved to go on walks in the woods and go fishing,” Walters said. “Our backyard was full of streams and forestry.”

Along with exploration, figures in Walter’s life, such as her high school biology teacher, sparked her fascination with God’s beautiful creations and design of science. His teaching greatly influenced Walters, leading her to become a teacher.

“He was really into taking us out on the field, teaching us what mosses do and what makes a fern a fern,” Walters said.

Walters’s father worked as an engineer for General Electric and was instrumental in the development of the steam turbine. Her mother is a second-generation Dutch immigrant who works in education, was a stay-at-home mom and an entrepreneurial soul that also influenced Walters. Her mother started home businesses, such as the reselling of yarn to earn extra income for the family. Walters has a younger sister who now lives on their old family Saratoga farm. 

After high school, Walters pursued her passion for science and animals, leading her to one of the most prestigious institutes of education in the country. After interviewing and applying to Cornell she was rejected for their vet program, but her grit wouldn’t allow that dream to die. Walters reapplied for the Animal Science department, to which she was accepted, and furthered her education by earning a double major.

Walters has had a fascination with horses ever since she witnessed the birth of a baby horse when she was young. From then on, she was hooked on all things horse related. Soon after, she began to help tend to the horses along with competing in dressage through her college years. Dressage is a type of horse riding usually compared to a dance of sorts. You can still find her tending and raising horses, preparing them for the dance of dressage and jumping. More than just a hobby, horses shaped Walter’s life, setting her on a path to gain her PhD in horse embryos.

“Watching that horse being born was amazing,” Walters said. “I just love witnessing new life being born.”

During her undergraduate years, Walters also took on a 12-week program called SEA (Sea Education Association), an ocean-focused academic program that provides the opportunity to learn from an explorational and hands-on education of marine life. 

The program starts off with a six-week stay in Boston, learning onshore and preparing to sail for the next six-weeks. Setting sail in Florida, Walters continued on her new journey on a research boat sailing the Atlantic and Caribbean seas. As a final for the 12-week process, each student is given the opportunity of taking on the huge responsibility of becoming Jr. Captain of the ship for a 6-hour watch period. The program is now offered to high school students throughout the nation.

“We had to navigate and run the science stops,” Walters said. “It was an amazing life changing experience.”

The inherited entrepreneurial spirit of Walters’ mother came in handy when Walters was in need of money after attending Cornell. Always up for adventure, she decided to work in sales for a livestock horse feed company, combining her passion and profession. With her persistence and personality, she became the queen of New York at one point, having all burrows under her belt as sales territory.

“I had a store in the Bronx buy truckload quantities of dog food and we would go get sushi afterward,” Walters said. “It was an adventure for a 25-year-old.”

One day, while visiting Pennsylvania to continue branching out her territory, she decided to make a pit stop at a corner deli where she met her husband, Kurt Walters. After being invited by her husband and friend for lunch, they hit it off and exchanged phone numbers. When she returned from her out-of-country trip, they started to go on dates together and were eventually wedded. Karen Walters wanted to pursue further education and was striving for a PhD. Her husband chose to follow her wherever she chose to go, except California.

This led her to apply to colleges in Colorado State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, UC Davis and University of Florida, Gainesville, but only one offered a PhD without a masters. 

“Next thing you know we were on our way to Davis,” Walters said.

Walters’ son was born while she was teaching at Davis. She and her husband decided it would be best to find some new scenery for the family and ended up landing in the Central Valley. Tollhouse Church pastor David Tolladay, Susan Ainley’s father, recommended Fresno Christian to the Walters.

“We came down and checked FCS out. We made the jump and never looked back, the best thing we ever did,” Kurt Walters said.

In 2013, while her son attended FCS, Walters was hired on as the Biology teacher. She stayed in that position until she decided to follow a separate path when her son graduated in 2019. Throughout her time at FCS, Walters taught Biology, AP Biology, Zoology, Chemistry and Physics.

Alumnus Tyler Villines was one of Walters’ students and a friend of her sons. He describes her teaching style and the atmosphere of her classroom as memorable.  

“She is a teacher that is exciting and challenging, but also full of grace and love for her students!” Villines said. “I’m excited to see her return to FCS.”

Walters’ father was raised Methodist, but not in practice, and her mom was raised Agnostic. Even so, her neighbors were a huge part of Walter’s spiritual journey, introducing God into her life at the age of four when they took her to church services. Faith is something that guides Walters’ life, and she shares it in her classroom. 

“Science gives us a window into God’s mind; he’s so organized,” Walters said.

Along with teaching and representing God on campus, Walters spends her free time volunteering in Downtown Fresno with Cornerstone Church. The Showers of Hope ministry focuses on serving Fresno’s homeless community by providing showers and food. This moment of peace gives volunteers the opportunity to shine the Lord’s light on people who may not know him. Walters shares how getting involved in her church’s ministry has grown her spiritually.

“We pass people every day without appreciating what’s going on within their spiritual connection,” Walters said. “When you touch another person spirit to spirit, soul to soul, it’s unbelievable. You can see the love of God, I’ve gotten very addicted to it.” 

Walters is excited about the chance to be back on the FCS campus as a science teacher this year.

“The way this opportunity opened back up was nothing short of miraculous,” Walters said. “Mr. Cantu had another job opportunity, and Mr. Brown called me on a Tuesday and asked me to start the next Monday.” 

Braden Belmont, ‘26, is enrolled in Walters’ Anatomy class and looks forward to walking into Walters’ classroom.

“My favorite part about her has been her love for science and how she wants to make the class enjoyable for us,” Belmont said. “She is always very happy, and she loves to help other people.”

Walters has returned to her previous position at FCS for the 2024-25 school year, bringing knowledge and showing God’s love to every student who walks into her classroom.

To read more from The Feather visit Jacob Cantu steps into new science role and New students welcomed into FC Community.