Science teaching is hard work. To create an experience that engages all students, an enormous amount of planning goes on behind the scenes. Sometimes, the best-laid plans go awry, but it is worth the work and chaos when students get to do science. This award is a testament to the fact that student-driven curiosity, questioning, and exploration works. Students can figure things out when they are in charge of their own learning and support each other. All students can experience success.

Allison McPherren Pleasant Hill, IA | 7-12, Science, 2021

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

Allison McPherren has been an educator for 11 years. She has taught ninth grade Earth Science at Southeast Polk High School for the past seven years. She previously taught a variety of subjects at Saydel High School for five years. As a mentor teacher, Allison worked closely with her Science Instructional Coach to transform the Earth Science curriculum into an equitable experience. She designed and implemented storylines that included relevant phenomena and student-driven question boards that allowed students to figure out science concepts, as opposed to simply learning about them. Allison developed interactive science notebook pages to intentionally engage students in Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs). These pages provide students with templates to structure their work and make sense of their experiences using the Cross-Cutting Concepts (CCCs). They also provide students with the flexibility to engage in science practices in ways that are unique to their needs. Allison strives to cultivate a scientific community within her classroom. Students engage in structured, collaborative processes that ensure every individual’s voice is heard and valued. Students benefit from the perspectives of their classmates and learn to respect ideas and methods different from their own. Allison and her students regularly engage in scientific argumentation to reach a collective consensus. Allison has participated in the Iowa Academy of Science fall conference, Argument-Driven Inquiry professional development, and the Peer Alliance for Gender Equity (PAGE) through the Science Museum of Minnesota. Allison earned a B.A., magna cum laude, in biology from Central College. She is certified in biology, chemistry, general science, physical science, and basic science.

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