Bethany Lorenz, Putnam City North High School Biology teacher, is the 2012 recipient of the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) for Oklahoma. The OBTA is given each year by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) to a life science teacher in each state who demonstrates exemplary practice in the teaching of life science. Bethany has been a biology teacher at Putnam City North since 2001 and will be teaching biology and anatomy & physiology for the coming school year. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in science, is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and is currently working on a Master’s in educational leadership at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Ms. Lorenz participates in local, state and national workshops to improve her teaching and increase her science knowledge as both a participant and a facilitator. She is a member of NSTA, NABT and OSTA where she serves as the Northwest Regional Board member as well as serving on the board for Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education. She has worked on several committees for both her district and state and is the team leader of her school’s professional learning community for Biology I.
“Her duty,” she says, “is to interest students in life sciences.” To quote Bethany’s application essay further; “Basic biology knowledge is important because so much of our lives is touched by science (and life sciences especially). In a time where debates rage on about stem cell research, ethical issues in science technology, and cloning, biology teachers have a duty to inform their student on those issues and have those student become knowledgeable enough about the topic for form their own opinions.”
Bethany Lorenz’s enthusiasm and dedication to teaching biology is demonstrated in the following quote: “I believe that all students can learn. They may learn at different rates, but that they all have the capacity to learn.” She is a proponent of inquiry learning and uses student-driven experiences as much as possible. “Although I oversee a great deal, the students are responsible for the design of their own experiment. Not only does this provide ownership for the students in their learning, but I find that students retain more information for longer period of time because their interest is piqued.” Ms. Lorenz also likes inquiry methods for their versatility: “Inquiry lab work is also easily manipulated for the different levels of learning happening in each classroom.” She teaches several inclusion classes in which special education students are mainstreamed, and uses judicious groups of students to implement peer tutoring and leadership.
Ms. Lorenz is a strong advocate of using a variety of teaching techniques and believes she can best reach all learners when varying the different instructional strategies. She uses cross-curricular methods allowing students to shine while demonstrating mastery of science concepts and is constantly seeking new techniques, strategies or applications for concepts to improve her teaching and student performance. She also understands the impact of teaming with students’ parents to ensure the success of her students. Not only does Bethany involve parents but the entire local community by participating in Science Olympiad. The local vocational school, community college and research foundations provide opportunities she alone cannot provide her students. All of these opportunities encourage Bethany Lorenz’s students to continue their science education beyond the required classes and strengthens, not only the experience of her students, but our commitment to science as a nation.
The honor of Putnam City District Teacher of the Year was bestowed on Bethany for 2012 and while she doesn’t actively seek recognition for her teaching, the exceptional job she does as a teacher and mentor to her students and other teachers, puts her in the spotlight as one of Oklahoma’s outstanding science educators.
Every year, the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) program attempts to recognize an outstanding biology educator (grades 7-12) in each of the 50 states; Washington, DC; Canada; Puerto Rico; and overseas territories. Candidates for this award do not have to be NABT members, but they must have at least three years public, private, or parochial school teaching experience. A major portion of the nominee’s career must have been devoted to the teaching of biology/life science, and candidates are judged on their teaching ability and experience, cooperativeness in the school and community, inventiveness, initiative, and student-teacher relationships. OBTA recipients are honored at a special event during the NABT Professional Development Conference sponsored by BIOZONE; microscopes from Leica Microsystems, Inc.; and certificates and a complimentary one-year membership from NABT.
To participate or nominate someone for the OBTA, fill out the forms found at this website: http://obtaoklahoma.wikispaces.com/Forms or request a form from the NABT office, 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd., Suite 402, McLean VA 22101. The deadline for completed applications is May 31 of each year. You can also send the name and contact information of your nominee in an e-mail to Kay Gamble, the Oklahoma OBTA Director at kaygamble@gmail.com or call NABT at (888) 501-6228 for information. A video or DVD must accompany an application in Oklahoma.