Tag Archives: Science Teachers

Teachers who specialized in science.

Dr. Marvin Nottingham: Teacher, coach, administrator, WW II hero

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Educator and administrator Dr. Marvin Nottingham was also a World War II veteran who saw battle at Iwo Jima. Photo Credit:

Many outstanding classroom teachers have served their country admirably in the military . One of these is Dr. Marvin Nottingham, a teacher and administrator originally from Wyoming who was also a World War II veteran.

Marvin was born on August 16, 1925, in Sheridan, Wyoming, and raised in Big Horn. As a young man, he worked on a cattle ranch in his native state. After his high school graduation, he served in the US military in the 133rd CB Battalion (this unit is often called the SeaBees). He fought valiantly on Iwo Jima, where he was a D8 bulldozer operator, pulling boats and troops out of the water surrounding the island. For his actions in that battle, Marvin earned a Bronze Star for his valor. In fact, until his passing, he was one of the last survivors of that fated battle.

Once he was discharged from the service, Marvin earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. He earned his Master’s degree from San Diego University and his PhD in Education from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1970.

Marvin inaugurated his career in education when he accepted a position as a teacher of chemistry, physics, and math. He also coached basketball. He spent 11 years in the classroom. Then he was promoted to the position of Vice Principle at Coronado High School in San Diego. He then went on to serve as a principal at both Hemet High School and Palm Springs High School. He also served as an Area Superintendent for the Norwalk—La Mirada school District. He worked his way up to a position as a professor of educational administration at USC, and then served as Department Chair at the University of Idaho at Moscow. His career as an educator spanned 40 years.

After his retirement, Marvin continued to contribute to the educational community. He served as the President of the Educational Foundation and as the President of the Retired Teachers Association. He also devoted nearly 20 years to the Valley Restart Homeless Shelter.

During his lifetime, Marvin authored three books. His first two books, Once a Cowboy and Victor and Connections to Pacific Spiny Lobster: Tales of Land and Sea, were memoirs, and his third book, Principles for Principals, described his educational pedagogy.

Marvin Nottingham passed away on March 26, 2024, in Hemet, California. He was 98 years old. He was interred in Riverside National Cemetery, a burial place reserved for veterans, in Riverside, California.

To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to an article about him published in the Cowboy State Daily in 2023.

Science teacher Bryn Zingrebe honored by Illinois State Board of Education

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High school science teacher Bryn Zingrebe has been named to the Illinois State Board of Education Teacher of the Year Cohort as the 2024 Outstanding Early Career Educator. Photo Credit: The Chicago Reporter

Congratulations to secondary school science teacher Bryn Zingrebe. She has been named to the Illinois State Board of Education Teacher of the Year Cohort as a 2024 Outstanding Early Career Educator.

Bryn currently teaches at Evergreen Park Community High School. There she instructs courses in Advanced Placement and Honors Chemistry. She also serves as the Assistant Cross Country Coach, the Assistant Track and Field Coach for both boys and girls, a BRIDGE Teacher and Mentor, and Leadership Sponsor. This is her fourth year at the school.

“Learning from my students has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of teaching at EPCHS,” declares Bryn. “My students share new knowledge with me every day. Listening and learning from my knowledgeable teens has led to improvement in my character, a deeper understanding of effective teaching techniques, and has improved my ability to deliver science content in a meaningful and relevant way,” she continues.

Bryn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Illinois State University in 2020. She completed a Master’s degree in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in English as a Second Language from the University of St. Francis in 2023. She is currently working on a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Ohio University.

Bryn is one of 15 teachers throughout the state of Illinois who were selected to the cohort, according to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The ISBE annually selects Regional Teachers of the Year, an Outstanding Early Career Educator and Bilingual, Special Education, and Early Childhood Teachers of the Year to be members of the Illinois Teachers of the Year Cohort.

Dr. Roy Biñas Basa has been named New Mexico’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Dr. Roy Biñas Basa of Zuni, New Mexico, has been named his state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: New Mexico Public Education Department

I always enjoy sharing the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Dr. Roy Biñas Basa, a STEM teacher from Zuni, New Mexico.

Roy teaches natural science and career and technical courses to high school students in grades nine through twelve at both Twin Buttes Cyber Academy and Zuni High School.

Most of Roy’s curriculum involves project-based activities, such as making fatty acid methyl esters from selected plant seeds as an alternative biofuel. That project garnered the 2022 New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge. Roy’s students also make motors and generators, solar panels, simple robots, and windmills.

Roy earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a major in General Science; his Master’s degree in Education with a major in School Administration and Supervision; and his PhD in Educational Management. He earned all of his degrees at the University of Negros Occidental, Recoletos. While studying there, Roy’s academic excellence was recognized with awards such as High Academic Distinction and Outstanding in Dissertation. While still engaged in ongoing studies for his Master’s of Education in Special Education at Western Colleges, he also earned a Master’s of Education in Natural Science from the University of St. La Salle. He has also obtained Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) certification, an International Teaching License, and successful completion of the Licensure Examination for Teachers in the Philippines. He has also authored a number of books. To view a list of his books click on this link to roybasa.com.

Roy is a dedicated educator who has made significant contributions to the field, being recognized with numerous awards and honors from local, regional, national and international organizations. His pedagogical priorities revolve around fostering an inclusive learning environment where every student’s unique needs and perspectives are valued, ensuring that high-quality education is accessible to all and empowering students to reach their full potential.

To read more about Roy Biñas Basa, click on this link to the New Mexico Department of Public Education.

Alaska names Catherine Walker as the 2024 State Teacher of the Year

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Science teacher Catherine Walker of Anchorage, Alaska, has been named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Anchorage School District

Our nation’s students are fortunate to have such dedicated and capable teachers in the classroom. One of these is high school science and career technology educator Catherine Walker of Anchorage, Alaska. She has been named the 2024 Teacher of the Year for her state.

Catherine teaches oceanography, marine biology, unmanned aviation science, and Project Lead the Way engineering essentials to students in grades nine through 12 at Dimond High School in Anchorage. She has taught there since 2006. In addition to instructing her courses, she also sponsors the Battle of the Books, the Gender Sexuality Alliance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Guardian, and the National Ocean Science Bowl clubs. And as if all that were not enough, she also teaches courses for educators new to science at Prince William Sound College.

Alaska is not the only place where Catherine put her knowledge of the environment into practice. She also served in the Peace Corps in Mali from 2002-2004 as a Natural Resource Management Volunteer.

Catherine earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. She earned her Master’s degree in Teaching from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. In addition, she completed the Semester in Environmental Science at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. In 2019, she earned her National Geographic Educator Certification and attended the National Geographic Education Summit in Washington, DC. Furthermore, she is a 2023 Earthwatch Project Kindle Fellow and a 2023 Lindblad National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. 

Her selection as Alaska’s Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition Catherine has received. In 2023, she was honored with the Alaska Marine Science Outreach Award, the National Science Teaching Association’s Shell Science Teaching Award, and the Alaska Oil and Gas Association Teacher Grant. In 2015, she garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). She has also won the Eleanor B. Schick Award for Environmental Excellence from Brandeis University. Furthermore, she is a member of the Pacific Ocean Educators Network and a board member for the Alaska Society for Technology in Education. 

Teacher Justin Moreschi garners 2023 Teacher Achievement Award

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Elementary teacher Justin Moreschi has garnered a 2023 Teacher Achievement Award from the Kentucky State Department of Education. Photo credit: Klondike Elementary School

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Justin Moreschi, an elementary school teacher from Jefferson County, Kentucky. He has garnered a 2023 Teacher Achievement Award from the Kentucky State Department of Education.

Justin teaches science to students in grades four and five at Klondike Lane Elementary in Louisville. He also serves his school by advising Klondike’s Bluegrass Music Club and coaching the archery team. In a career that spans 16 years, he has been teaching at Klondike since 2007.

Justin chose science as his emphasis because, he says, he was exposed to the excitement of the subject as a child through his dad’s profession. “When I was a child, my father was an elephant trainer at the Louisville Zoo,” the honored educator reveals. “He instilled in me a love for animals at a very young age.” Once he graduated from college, he took a job at the same zoo where his father worked. Today, he shares his love for science by exposing his students to different animal species. “It is incredibly important for children to develop a nurturing sense of appreciation for animals to ensure their continued existence,” he asserts.

Now as an educator leader, Justin encourages his colleagues to hold on to what inspires them to teach. “The inspiration to teach has come to all of us in countless ways, events, and processes,” he declares. “Seizing this opportunity of teaching will change your life in ways you could never imagine,” he says.

Justin earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Behavior Disorders from Bellarmine University. He earned his Master’s degree in Education from Indiana University Southeast. He completed the requirements for his Specialist in Education degree, Gifted Education and Talent Development, from Western Kentucky University.