2020 Chemistry Teacher of the Year Award Winners

Each year, AACT recognizes three K–12 educators as the Chemistry Teacher of the Year in their respective grade bands. Through their pedagogy, dedication, skills, and accomplishments, these teachers make outstanding contributions to the chemistry teaching profession and AACT.

Barbara is the Elementary Science Facilitator with the Katy Independent School District in Katy, Texas, where she teaches science to students from kindergarten through fifth grade at King Elementary. Additionally, she directs an after-school STEM Club and a Science Academy for English Language Learners. During the 2018–19 school year, she served as Elementary School Ambassador on the AACT Governing Board. In addition to being a passionate educator for 16 years, Barbara is a mother, new grandmother, and traveler.

Ann has been teaching Middle Division Science at St. Richard’s Episcopal School in Indianapolis, Indiana for nineteen years. She enjoys the wonderful academic environment, dedicated families, and camaraderie between the faculty and staff that is second to none. In 2018, Ann was the recipient of the Gladysmae Good Chemistry Teacher of the Year Award through the American Chemical Society Local Indiana Section. Ann and her husband Matt have three children, all of whom are avid fans of the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts.

Ariel teaches chemistry at Norfolk County Agricultural High School in Walpole, MA. Ariel is a charter member of AACT. She hosted a webinar about including all learners in the chemistry classroom and was the local host for the Teacher Day at ACS National Meeting Boston in 2018. Outside of AACT, she is involved with the American Modeling Teachers Association, STEMteachersMassBay, ChemEd Xchange, and the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers. Ariel was a 2019 finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for the state of Massachusetts. You can regularly see Ariel celebrating #nerdytshirtfriday on twitter and wearing #nerdychic whenever she can.