The PAEMST Award is a tremendous honor and responsibility. My role as a STEM ambassador will provide me with the opportunity to communicate with a broader audience on the many wonderful things going on in science education in the United States and the advances in STEM to address world challenges. I am grateful for my students, administrators, teaching partners, family, and friends who support me in the amazing art and science that is teaching. I look forward to new challenges and opportunities ahead!
Lynnetta Bleeker Ankeny, IA | 7-12, Science, 2015
The official biography below was current at the time of the award.
Lynnetta (Lynne) Bleeker has taught Life Science and Honors Life Science for seven years at Parkview Middle School. She currently teaches seventh grade. Prior to that, she taught science at Einstein Middle School for seven years. She has served as a science education specialist for 24 years, training thousands of teachers in science content and pedagogy. Lynne’s passion to provide real-world experiences to her students and other teachers led her to partner with organizations such as the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Weyerhaeuser, DuPont/Pioneer, Iowa State University, and the City of Ankeny. She instructs teachers in cutting edge topics such as biorenewables and engineering design. Lynne has mentored new teachers, led professional learning communities, coached a First Tech Challenge Robotics Team, and designed and taught afterschool STEM courses. Her many awards and grants include National Association of Biology Teachers’ 1995 Middle School Teacher of the Year, and multiple Ankeny Foundation grants. Lynne earned a B.S., cum laude, in biology and French from Iowa State University. She also earned a M.Ed. in mathematics and science leadership, and a teaching certificate from University of Washington where she was a Ford Fellow. Ongoing professional development has allowed her to maintain teaching certification of 4–12 science and K–12 French in Washington and 5–12 science and French in Iowa.
- High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
- Awardee holding Presidential certificate between Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Dr. John P. Holdren, and Assistant Director, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy.
- High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph
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