Betsy Sullivan

Madison, MS | 7-12, Science, 2013

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

I always loved thinking outside the box. Science gave me that opportunity. The brilliance of teaching science is that it is constantly evolving. New information is always being developed. Sharing this with students was my greatest love. Now that I'm retired, I still have the opportunity to continue learning and sharing / teaching the public through volunteering at a local museum.

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

The first time a student's "light bulb" lit up above their head was the most transformative moment for me. Seeing students make the connection of science to everyday problems and how to solve those problems thrills me. I taught for 37 years. I am still in contact with students who moved into STEM fields. I enjoy their success in their chosen fields and love it when they share stories with me.

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

I am an avid advocate for STEM education in our country, particularly in Mississippi. I adjunct at a local university in teacher education and use my experience in education to encourage the development of STEM skills in my preservice teachers. I take every opportunity to share skills and information with teachers in Mississippi, especially in lab activity organization and development. I am the assistant executive director for our state science teaching organization and conduct presentations.

Biography

Betsy Sullivan is a 37-year veteran teacher. She is retired from formal education, but still teaches informally whenever she can. She retired from Madison County School District. She previously taught in Simpson County Schools, Pearl Municipal Schools, and Forrest County Schools. Betsy served nine years as an informal educator at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. She was selected as Teacher of the Year in 3 school districts during her experience. Her greatest honor, however, is the success of her students in their chosen fields. Her enthusiasm for education still influences her daily, as she is a volunteer at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Betsy is a Mississippi Science Teaching Association board member. She is a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and mentors other teachers who are seeking higher degrees. Betsy is an adjunct professor at Mississippi College where she mentors preservice teachers in developing classroom skills so that they will be successful educators. She also works part-time as an educator for a Mississippi government agency. She conducts teacher workshops in energy activities (NEED: National Energy Education Development project) as well as speaking with students about energy resources and development. Betsy entered the science education program as a freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she returned to pursue her Ph.D. in science education (biology). She holds a secondary science certification. 

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.