Receiving this award is a testament to the wonderful partnership between parents, teachers, administrators, and community members to help students learn and enjoy science. This award also belongs to my students for their continued love of learning, curiosity, and inquisitiveness of the natural world. I am deeply honored to receive the PAEMST Award and will continue to seek new and innovative approaches to teaching science to ensure that students are well prepared for college and beyond.

Dat Le Arlington, VA | 7-12, Science, 2009

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Dat Le has been a science educator for 15 years. For the past 13 years, he has taught life science, biology, and environmental science to middle and high school students at H-B Woodlawn Secondary in the Arlington Public Schools District. To support his work in the classroom, Dat has been awarded several grants, including ones from the Dominion Educational Partnership, National Education Association Foundation, and Toshiba America Foundation. These grants have provided students with hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences that make connections to the real world. In addition to serving on the Science Standards Advisory Committee for the College Board, Dat has been an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he has taught research courses for the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. In 2006, Dat was the recipient of the National Science Teachers Association/Ohaus Award for Innovations in Science Teaching. Dat has a B.S. in Biology from the University of Mary Washington, an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Research and Evaluation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is certified in biology and is also a National Board Certified Teacher.

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