Receiving the Presidential Award is a reminder that every day is an opportunity to strive for excellence as I facilitate my students’ academic growth. I believe that “excellence” is a very allusive word. Every day, I should be better than the day before -- that’s what my students deserve. Continual reflection allows me to model professional growth for my students, which establishes a mindset that we learn from each other and that real learning never ends.

Marla Hines Vestavia Hills, AL | 7-12, Science, 2013

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

Marla Hines has taught 10th grade physical science at Vestavia Hills High School, in the suburbs of Birmingham, AL, for six years. Previously, she taught at Spain Park High School and Bessemer Academy. As a member of a collaborative team of educators, Marla oversees lab preparation for her professional learning community and serves her faculty as co-founder and coordinator of a teacher-led instructional rounds team. After serving as the 2012 Alabama Secondary Teacher of the Year, Marla has been involved in state level committees to restructure assessment and accountability in Alabama public schools and to author a new science course of study. In her classroom, she focuses on developing a community of learners who work together to master chemistry and physics content. Meanwhile, she fulfills her role as a facilitator of learning, as opposed to a dispenser of knowledge. She has presented at many school, district, state, and national conferences. Many of her presentations are focused on creating a nontraditional classroom that is student-centered and academically challenging. She also invests time in advocacy for implementation of Next Generation Science Standards. Marla has a B.S. in science education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher.

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