Lisa Kern Avon, IN | 7-12, Science, 2021

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

Lisa Kern has been teaching high school science for 25 years. She started her career at Pike High School, where she taught chemistry for three years. She then moved to Avon High School, where she teaches now. At Avon, she has taught Anatomy and Physiology, Integrated Chemistry and Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science. She currently teaches chemistry to students in grades 9-12, and Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science to students in grades 10-12. Lisa’s students often complete outdoor laboratory activities on Avon’s campus. They discover the vast amount of biodiversity that can be found in Indiana and determine the water quality of a stream next to the school. She uses games and puzzles along with traditional labs to keep students engaged. Her students have created certified pollinator plots that are Monarch Waystations to help increase habitat for vulnerable species in the region. Lisa is the sponsor of the Avon Eco Club. Lisa is a two-time Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellow, receiving grants in 2014 and 2022. She has been a presenter in the AP Training and Incentive Program through the University of Notre Dame, Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Incorporated (HASTI) conferences, and the Environmental Education Association of Indiana (EEAI) conference. She is on the editorial board of the Hoosier Science Teacher, a journal produced by HASTI. She is also a National Geographic Certified Educator and an Indiana Master Naturalist. In 1999, Lisa earned a B.A. in biology from Purdue University and a Secondary Science Teaching Certificate from Indiana University. She earned an M.A. in science education from Western Governors University in 2008. She is certified to teach biology and chemistry.

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