Tracie Chapo named 2009 Outstanding Biology Teacher for Nebraska

Lincoln North Star High School teacher Tracie Chapo has been selected as the 2009 Outstanding Biology Teacher for Nebraska.

An independent committee of college biologists, industry scientists, school administrators and fellow teachers oversaw the selection of Chapo as this year's award recipient. The OBTA program in Nebraska is part of a nationwide biology teacher award program run by the National Association of Biology Teachers.

Chapo was honored at a special award presentation during North Star's Homecoming assembly September. 11. Michael Forsberg, nationally recognized nature photographer and Lincoln native, presented the award.

A biology and science instructor at North Star, Chapo has been using Nebraska EPSCoR's science outreach program, Molecular Biology for Secondary Classrooms, every year in her biology and environmental biology classes.

Chapo was chosen as this year's award recipient because of her exemplary career in life science education, said TJ Bliss, director of the Nebraska OBTA program and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student.

"Together with an excellent teaching record, Chapo has consistently exhibited inventiveness in the biology classroom. Her initiative is evidenced by how she has worked with her students to monitor the health and diversity of wetland marshes near her school, as well as through her efforts to help students connect to biology through interactions with the Lincoln Children's Zoo," Bliss said. Chapo worked as an animal trainer at the zoo for many years before becoming a high school teacher.

In addition to statewide recognition, Chapo will receive a pair of binoculars from Prentice Hall and a new microscope from Leica Microsystems Inc. She will also receive funding from Lincoln-based LI-COR Inc. and from Lincoln Public Schools to attend the 2009 conference of the National Association of Biology Teachers November 11-14 in Denver, where a special awards luncheon will be held in honor of all OBTA recipients from across the nation.

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson offered his congratulations, stating in a personal letter to Chapo that "it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to excel but you've shown that you have what it takes to succeed. This is a prestigious honor that you should be very proud of, as we Nebraskans are of you! You represent us well."

Lois Mayo, recently retired science curriculum specialist for Lincoln Public Schools, said Chapo is "a positive ambassador for environmental education and for LPS" and that she "is a phenomenal biology teacher...friendly, fun to be around, enthusiastic, organized, sincere, caring, and concerned about students."

The OBTA program is funded by the National Association of Biology Teachers, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Each year, the program attempts to recognize an outstanding biology educator (grades 7-12) in each of the 50 states; Washington, D.C.; Canada; Puerto Rico; and overseas territories.