Provided by Prince William County Schools
Virginia’s top biology teacher works right here in Prince William County. The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park’s (GS@IP) Dr. Elizabeth Romano has been named the Virginia Association of Science Teacher’s Outstanding Biology Teacher for 2019. She is also the recipient of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Virginia.
About Dr. Romano
Romano is in her seventh year of teaching at the school. She said that her passion for science was ignited when she was a student in Osbourn Park High School’s environmental and biological specialty program. It led her to pursue a master’s and a Ph.D. at George Mason University. Now she’s back in PWCS to teach at The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park.
“George Mason University was the cornerstone for my cross-curricular understanding of STEM concepts and development of my research laboratory prowess, both of which I endeavor to impart to my students,” said Romano.
Romano served as a National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellow, through which she helped lead a STEM summer program for rising middle schoolers. She teaches Introduction to Biology I and II, Human Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology and Research Methods courses at GS@IP. Students describe her as “incredibly honest and approachable” and “a teacher who creates an engaging atmosphere in the classroom.”
“When asked a question that she doesn’t know the answer to, she will frankly tell you that she doesn’t know, but doesn’t stop there. She will take time and think through the problem out loud, drawing on prior knowledge to reach a conclusion, setting the perfect example of how a student should approach a complex question,” said GS@IP senior Eirian Crocker.
Jason Calhoun, director of The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park, and colleagues and students nominated Dr. Romano for the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award.
“She works tirelessly to transform our course work and sequence here to continue to match the 21st century Biological skills that STEM corporations are demanding from our students,” said Calhoun.
The Award
The Outstanding Biology Teacher Award is given annually and recognizes middle and high school biology teachers in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, Puerto Rico and overseas territories. Nominees need to have at least three years of public, private or parochial school teaching experience. A large portion of the nominee’s career must have been devoted to the teaching of biology/life science. Nominees are judged on “their teaching ability and experience, cooperativeness in the school and community, and student-teacher relationships,” according to the NABT’s website.
Romano was recognized at a November honors luncheon held at the NABT Professional Development Conference in Chicago. Award recipients receive a one-year NABT membership and resources from sponsors for their classroom.
“I want my students to question the world around them and leave my class able to see the big picture while accounting for the details that drive it,” said Romano. “I am proud to be a part of an incredible faculty with fantastic students at The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park. “
