Sharon Phillips, Vanoss High School Biology teacher and science supervisor, is the recipient of the 2011 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. Sharon has been a science teacher and coach in Vanoss since 2002 and presently teaches Zoology, and Advanced Biology, along with girls and boys athletics. She began her teaching career at Cashion Public Schools in 1984 and has taught at Kellyville and Lexington Public Schools and loves science education. Her job, she says, is to create the interest that will help students learn to think critically and biological science holds the key. To quote Sharon’s application essay; “Biology affects every aspect of life. Whether in the lab discussing what error was made during an experiment, or discussing the hottest topic in our world, problem solving is critical in our world today.”
Ms. Phillips participates in local, state and national workshops to improve her teaching and increase her science knowledge. She shares workshop information and labs with her colleagues and helps them implement hands-on learning and laboratories and safety measures in their classes. A few of the workshops she has participated in over the years include digital microscopy, Anatomy in Clay, NSAT and Biotechnology at OCCC. She is involved in local and regional science fair, Science Olympics and frequently serves as a science fair judge for local competitions. She has implemented much of her gathered knowledge in a Senior Science Lab course. In turn, those seniors, with her guidance have introduced science concepts to very excited elementary students.
Sharon Phillips enthusiasm and dedication to teaching biology is demonstrated in the following quote: “I believe biological science education is of the greatest importance. Teaching students to connect concepts, compare and contrast areas, and infer on subjects discussed is critical in the life science world.” She further states: “Discussing subjects that arise in our rural community, state or national level, or at home on the personal level can bring out the best conversations and thinking skills in my classes.” Her essay’s concluding paragraph sums up Sharon’s upbeat teaching philosophy and work ethic, “I love teaching, and I love the life sciences. The influence I have on my students will affect the outcome of their lives. Whether I make a difference in one student or a hundred students, it is worth every effort I put forth in the teaching profession, With all the negativity surrounding the teaching field, each teacher must make a conscience choice to be positive. I believe in my profession, I believe in my students, and I believe that a positive influence can make a difference.”
While she was Vanoss Teacher of the year for 2008-2009, Sharon Phillips does not actively seek recognition for her enthusiasm and dedication to science education. She simply believes her role is to bring the best she can to her classroom and be there for her students. She is like the majority of great teachers in Oklahoma; hardworking, dedicated and humble about her accomplishments. This article is not only to honor the OBTA awardee for 2011 but to encourage other dedicated biology/life science teachers like Sharon to apply for OBTA in the years to come. It is not just about the award, but about celebrating the outstanding biology teaching going on behind hundreds of closed doors in the our state.
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 download the form from the NABT website, www.nabt.org. The deadline for completed applications is May 31, 2012. 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 (703) 264-9696/ (800) 406-0775 for information. A video or DVD must accompany an application in Oklahoma.