Winning the Presidential Award in 1997 was a pivotal point in my career. It opened up many opportunities for professional development and helped me to realize the power of teaching science. Examining my practice helped me to be a better teacher and help others to excel in the profession.

Karen Mesmer Baraboo, WI | 7-12, Science, 1997

Karen Mesmer began her teaching career in 1980 in Alaska. In 1988, she moved to Wisconsin and taught seventh grade science at Jack Young Middle School in Baraboo, where she was teaching when she received the Presidential Award in 1997. Karen retired from the classroom in 2015 and now works with her own company, Mesmer Science Education Consulting. She facilitates professional development with school districts and teachers around aligning teaching to the Next Generation Science Standards, conducts alignment studies on state science tests, and writes curriculum. Karen received her B.A. in biology education from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio; M.A. in curriculum and instruction, science education, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction, science education, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Karen is the author of many articles for science teacher magazines and two book chapters. She has presented at over 30 state and national science teacher conventions and was the President of the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association in 2000. She was an NGSS@NSTA curator and is a part of the NSTA Professional Development Cadre. She has received the Severn Rinkob Teacher of the Year Award for the Baraboo School District, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Kohl Fellowship, and the Ohaus award for innovation in science education.

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