John Blackwell Exeter, NH | 7-12, Science, 2021

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

John Blackwell has taught astronomy and physics to 9th-12th graders at Phillips Exeter Academy for the past 20 years. In prior years, John spent one year as an educator at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium and one year as a teacher's aid at Mark’s Meadow School. As the school’s Observatory Director, John manages the curriculum and instrument needs of the astronomy program, in addition to teaching four classes per term in astronomy and physics. John focuses on student-centered, experiential learning, using data collection at the observatory for student research and mastery of the material at the college level. From 2011 to 2015, John served as the school’s science department chair, a rotating position managing 25 fellow teachers, the program offerings, and budgetary needs. In his work with students and other high schools and universities, John has given numerous presentations and presented papers on science education and astronomy. John’s most recent projects involve working with his students and the University of New Hampshire in the design and implementation of magnetometers to study minute changes in the Earth’s magnetic field due to solar activity. In 2010, John was awarded the Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s Thomas J. Brennan Award to recognize exceptional achievement related to the teaching of astronomy at the high school level. In 2007, John was involved with the Spitzer Space Telescope Observing Program for Students and Teachers which was given a NASA Group Achievement Award. John has a B.S., magna cum laude, in aviation management and flight operations from Daniel Webster College, and an M.S. in astronomy from James Cook University.

• High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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