This award is a tribute to the tireless work of my students, my colleagues, and myself. This award validates the belief that urban students can love and be successful in science. It honors the strategic effort of teachers who strive to provide pathways for their students to achieve greatness in science. It means that teachers like me are rewarded for ensuring that every minute of instruction is engaging, rigorous, and relevant.

Robert Ettinger Seattle, WA | 7-12, Science, 2011

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

Bob Ettinger has taught science in urban public middle schools for 8 years, and for the last 5 years, he has taught eighth grade at Asa Mercer Middle School. Previously, he taught at the John W. McCormack Middle School in Dorchester, MA. Bob has an unwavering belief that all students are capable of becoming scientists, doctors, and engineers. In his rigorous, inquiry-based science class, Bob's students both learn science and love it. In the 5 years since Bob's arrival at Asa Mercer Middle School, the percentage of eighth grade students at or above standard in science has jumped from 29 percent to 84 percent. The achievement of these students, 77 percent of whom receive free or reduced-price lunch and 95 percent of whom are students of color, proves what is possible for urban students in science. Bob leads his colleagues in collaborative planning to design engaging lessons that enliven every minute of class. These lessons include an ecological study of the Pacific Northwest salmon decline and an engineering challenge to build the most efficient desalinization plant. Bob has a B.S. in geological sciences from Brown University and an M.Ed. from the Boston Teacher Residency at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is a National Board Certified Teacher.

Know a great teacher like Robert Ettinger?