Diedre Young Pine Bluff, AR | 7-12, Science, 2015

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

Diedre Young, an educator for 18 years, has been teaching science at Ridgway Christian High School for the past nine years. She is currently teaching 9th grade Physical Science, 10th grade Honors Biology, 11th grade Honors Chemistry, 12th grade Environmental Science, and 12th grade College Level Biology through South East Arkansas Community College. Diedre designs authentic research in the classroom and is the recipient of several research awards and grants. She was one of 12 national finalists for People Magazine’s Teacher of the Year award in 2013. She was published in the Research Based Education Journal and participated in a month long research project at sea on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Ship Atlantis doing physical oceanography. All of her students participate in U.S. and international science fairs. To date, her students have been awarded over $200,000 in science fair scholarships. Diedre has participated in several local, state, and national professional development workshops and presentations. She has presented in Europe, working with a school in Paderborn, Germany, on teaching climate change in the classroom. Diedre earned a B.A. in allied health, a B.S. in biology from Central Washington University, and a M.A.T from the University of Arkansas, Monticello. She is certified in grade 7–12 in life and physical science.

• 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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