This award honors the diligence that I have maintained to bring the most innovative teaching to my students every day. It validates methods of teaching through inquiry and making real-world connections for students in the pursuit of scientific literacy. I am humbled by this acknowledgement and owe gratitude to many of my colleagues and mentors who have helped me become a great science teacher.

Erin Escher Portsmouth, RI | 7-12, Science, 2013

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

Erin Escher has been teaching at Portsmouth Middle School for the past 14 years. His career began as an environmental education coordinator and naturalist for the Rancho el Chorro Outdoor School in San Luis Obispo, CA. As an eighth grade science teacher and leader of the school’s garden and hydroponics club, Erin shares his curiosity in science and enjoys the interactive role in his students’ discovery and generation of knowledge. He has been influential in promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at his school by leading STEM workshops and serving on the school improvement technology committee. Erin is also a mentor at Brown University for pre-service science teachers, a co-chair for the Next Generation Science Standards Task Force for the JASON Project, and was a life science specialist for the NSF-funded Rhode Island Technology Enhanced Science program. Erin has a NASA leadership certificate in STEM education from the Teachers College at Columbia University; a National Board Certification in early adolescence science; a certificate of advanced degree of study in education from Roger Williams University; a B.A. in environmental studies from the University of California Santa Barbara; and is working towards a M.Ed. in curriculum, instruction and assessment from Adams State University. He is certified in middle grades science education and elementary education.

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