Bradford Hill

Beaverton, OR | 7-12, Science, 2013

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

I’m compelled by the role STEM education plays in creating a more informed, just, and innovative society. Through teaching and leadership, I work to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration so that students can meaningfully participate in solving the challenges of their time—and enjoy the wonder of science in the world around them.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

While working alongside teachers adapting the Patterns curriculum to reflect their students’ lived experiences, I saw how meaningful change begins with empowered educators. That moment affirmed my belief that STEM leadership is about investing in people and cultivating ideas that extend far beyond any one classroom.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

As a Presidential Awardee, I aim to amplify teacher voice and cultivate greater collaboration among classrooms, districts, and organizations. Advancing STEM means building systems where teacher leadership is valued, collaboration is supported, and professional learning is continuous and student-centered.

Biography

Bradford Hill is a nationally recognized science educator with nearly two decades of experience in high school physics and engineering instruction. He currently teaches at Mountainside High School in Beaverton, Oregon, and serves as lead author and facilitator for the collaborative iteration of the Patterns Physics curriculum—supporting the implementation of equitable, standards-based science instruction across the region. Bradford is a lead author of the Patterns Physics curriculum and contributes to the broader Patterns Science Sequence (https://hsscience4all.org), an open-source, equity-focused, and engineering project-based high school science curriculum. His work has supported over 700 teachers across dozens of districts, multiple states, and internationally. The Patterns approach has been published in The Science Teacher and featured at national conferences including NSTA and AAPT. Bradford’s work has been recognized with national honors, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the AAPT Paul W. Zitzewitz Award for K-12 Physics Teaching, and the NSTA Distinguished Teaching Award. In 2023, he was selected as a Fulbright Distinguished Teacher, which allowed him to teach and collaborate with educators in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam. Beyond the classroom, Bradford has held leadership positions including President of the Oregon Science Teachers Association, District Leader on the NSTA Leadership Council, and Program Manager for the Patterns Sequence with the Portland Metro STEM Partnership. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Oregon. He is committed to building a future where teacher leadership drives innovation, equity, and excellence in science education.

High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
Awardee holding Presidential certificate between Megan Smith, U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. France A. Còrdova.
High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

The views expressed in awardee profiles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or the PAEMST program.