St. Louis Public Radio: Program aims to improve science education

Natalia Cantu attaches electrodes to a cockroach leg and taps its spiky hairs with a paintbrush.The neurons in the leg fire rapidly in response, appearing as sharp peaks and valleys on her smartphone. Cantu, who teaches ninth-grade biology in Edinburg, Texas, is in her second year of Washington University’s Master of Science in Biology for […]

Q&A with Missouri biology teacher of the year

Ryan Lacson, a 2013 graduate of the Master of Science in Biology for Science Teachers program at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named the 2017 Missouri Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Lacson is a science teacher at Galena High School in Galena, Missouri. He also sponsors Galena High School’s Beta […]

Challenging stereotypes, changing lives

Located at the southernmost tip of Texas, the Rio Grande Valley is at some points less than a mile from Mexico’s border. While it is home to some of the poorest counties in the country, it’s one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. That growth amounts to more than 340,000 students enrolled […]

Masters program nurtures nationwide network of biology teachers

Lauren Church joked it was going to be a photo finish. Her baby’s due date was May 15, and the recognition ceremony for her master’s in biology degree was May 16. The baby was born May 9 and seven days later Church walked across a stage at Washington University in St. Louis after earning a […]

Mastering biology education in the high school classroom

There comes a time for many individuals when returning to school becomes a natural next step on a career path. However for teachers, the high demands of the school year and their unique work schedule can make finding the right program difficult. For Nhan Pham, a biology teacher at St. Louis University High School, the […]

ISP welcomes three new teacher leaders

This year, the Institute for School Partnership (ISP) welcomes three new teacher leaders to its team. Through a variety of opportunities, the ISP seeks to empower educators to lead inside and outside of their classrooms, giving them the resources and experiences they need to affect real change in their schools and communities. MS IN BIO […]

A presidential pursuit

Pencils scribble furiously as teacher Kathleen Dwyer asks for smiles of confidence once each student has finished solving the problem. Once each face is grinning ear-to-ear, Dwyer announces the correct answer to her students with the energy and enthusiasm of a sportscaster. However, the members of today’s class look a little bit different than her normal audience […]

Continuing education: for the love of learning

For three weeks this summer, 18 teachers from across the country came to Washington University in St. Louis to take the next step on the path towards excellence in teaching. The Institute for School Partnership (ISP) at Wash U offers teachers a specialized Master’s in Biology that caters specifically to the needs of educators. The participants […]