When I was in junior high I made it my goal to be a science teacher. I consider myself very fortunate because my life has been touched by many outstanding teachers. My first outstanding teacher was my fourth grade teacher, Ms. Myrtle Olson. I did not speak English very well. Ms. Olson opened my eyes to learning. Ms. Olson was instrumental in helping to shape my life.

We teach for the moments yet to come. My contributions occur when I inspire my students to continue on their journey of discovery. Teaching is a journey. Teachers open doors and create opportunities for dreams to become reality. Learning begins in the classroom. It is here that teachers impact all students and help mold their lives.

The 2009-10 school year is my 34th year of teaching science. I teach 6th and 7th grade science and am the science department chairperson at West Branch Community Schools in West Branch, Iowa. I motivate students to succeed, not only for themselves, but for their community and their world. I provide opportunities to motivate students by active participation in the process of learning and sharing. My programs in the environment, water conservation, and energy have received national acclaim. Over 100 students have made presentations in Tokyo and ten metropolitan cities in the United States. Eighty-eight students have received over $400,000 in savings bonds as a result of winning national team awards. Students crafted 3 legislative bills that were signed into law by Governor Culver.

My grant proposals include parents, businesses and the community. Parents are a vital component of this process. Since 1995 I have led a team of three meteorologists who serve as mentors for teachers in an NOAA NSF distance-learning Internet undergraduate professional development course in meteorology.

I have been fortunate to receive national honors including participating in the Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program. I am most proud of the national awards my students have won in national contests that include eCybermission, Siemens, Christopher Columbus Award, and ExploraVision. Program class honors include three-time recipient of the President’s Environmental Youth Award and four-time recipient of SeaWorld Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence award. My list of honors includes the Phi Delta Kappa and Wal-Mart National Teacher of the Year, Milken National Educator Award, and Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, Christa McAuliffe Fellowship, and DisneyHand teaching award, inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 1998. I received all of my Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.