I am from a family of six children and have found through this award that you're never too old to make your husband, mother, and siblings proud! I am both honored and humbled by this award. It validates all the time and effort that goes into the teaching of hands-on inquiry science lessons. The intensive application process made me aware of not only my successes in the classroom, but of how my teaching always has room for improvement. I remain, then, both a teacher and a lifelong learner.

Sally Pellegrin Cleveland, OH | K-6, Science, 2008

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

Sally Pellegrin teaches fifth and sixth grade science at Clara E. Westropp School in the Cleveland, OH, Municipal School District. She has been teaching for nearly 20 years, with more than 15 years of service at her current school. Ms. Pellegrin is credited with being a phenomenal, hard-working, intelligent, dedicated, and organized teacher. She is known and appreciated as a great science teacher who instills a love of science in every student who walks into her classroom. Colleagues describe her as going above and beyond on an hourly basis and possessing sincere humility. Fellow science teachers consider Ms. Pellegrin's students well-prepared, with a good background in hands-on, inquiry-based science techniques and appropriate behavior and expectations about the science lab. Parents praise her for involving and inspiring them and their children and for making science fun, useful, and relevant. She is lauded for encouraging students to be self-sufficient and inquisitive, to think about what is happening, and to communicate information effectively in verbal and written forms. Ms. Pellegrin's clear understanding of standards allows her to use instructional methods that employ inquiry and assessment strategies, thereby increasing student achievement. She consistently integrates new techniques into her work. She believes strongly in teacher networks and shares ideas, learns new techniques, and serves as a role model and mentor for other teachers. She reflects on her work and revises teaching strategies to provide the best opportunity for children to learn. Ms. Pellegrin is a member of local, state, and national associations. Currently as a member of the Ohio Achievement Test Grade 5 Science Content Advisory Committee, she has attended and presented at numerous conferences. She has trained teachers in the use of the Great Explorations in Math and Science curriculum since 2000 and has conducted numerous in-service trainings. Ms. Pellegrin has a B.S. in education and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Cleveland State University. She is certified to teach kindergarten through eighth grade.

Know a great teacher like Sally Pellegrin?