Receiving the Presidential Award is truly a monumental honor. My career has been paved by the incredible support from my colleagues, administrators, students, and families. Therefore, this award is a tribute and culmination of our communities’ efforts to embrace science education and instill a love of science in lifelong learners. I hope that my passion for science education has been contagious and my students are inspired to pursue their enthusiasm for science in future endeavors.

Jan Hrindo Incline Village, NV | 7-12, Science, 2013

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

Jan Hrindo has been teaching for 20 years. Her first five years were spent establishing a science lab at Cardinal Valley Elementary in Lexington, KY. Jan has spent the last 15 years at Incline Elementary and Incline Middle School, teaching all disciplines of science. Jan also taught at Sierra Nevada College for seven years and has mentored several preservice teachers. Jan currently teaches sixth grade Earth Science, seventh grade Life Science, and eighth grade Spanish. A glimpse of Jan’s classroom would include students absorbed in hands-on labs and activities, such as extracting strawberry DNA, raising and releasing trout, dissecting sharks, and debating the implications of stem cell technology. Her teaching strategies promote relevance for students, prompting them to ponder science outside of school. Jan has also carried out many community science events, including Science Fun and Family Night, and science fair workshops. Students and families have collaborated to construct electrical circuits, create mixtures and solutions, and compare the effects of variables in controlled experiments. Her motivation and enthusiasm have set the foundation for science excellence in her schools. Jan has a B.A. in elementary education from Transylvania University and a M.A. in elementary education from Georgetown College. She is National Board certified in early adolescent science.

Know a great teacher like Jan Hrindo?