Marni Landry

Phoenix, AZ | 7-12, Science, 2013

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

My motivation stems from a passion for bringing authentic STEM experiences to teachers in a way that reduces anxiety about "hard" subjects. I strive for excellence by designing innovative curriculum, providing professional development, and mentoring educators and students to pursue STEM careers and deepen content knowledge.

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

The remarkable achievements of students who didn't always meet the label of a typical STEM student regularly earn awards in STEM competitions. Additionally, these students earned competitive internships at prestigious institutions like the Office of the Surgeon General, Translational Genomics Institute, Biodesign Institute, and consistently received regional and national recognition in HOSA (Future Health Professionals Organization). These student successes directly reflect the transformative impact that transdisciplinary STEM education can have.

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

My Presidential Awardee platform allows me to advance STEM by mentoring teachers and students, designing innovative curriculum and delivering professional development to spread authentic, engaging STEM experiences nationwide. I continue to leverage my network to open doors and foster collaborations for future STEM leaders.

Biography

Marni Landry, Sr. Director of K12 STEM Outreach at Grand Canyon Education and an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University, previously spent 16 years at Paradise Valley High School. There, she developed curriculum and taught in the CREST program, covering courses like Introduction to STEM Research and various biology subjects. She also taught Molecular Cell Biology for the University of Arizona. Her students gained experience through internships at institutions such as the Office of the Surgeon General, Translational Genomics Institute, and Biodesign Institute. Passionate about immersion learning, Marni led international trips with her students to countries like Panama, Ecuador, and China. She completed a teaching exchange in Morocco as a U.S. Dept of State fellow. A leader in education, she served on the Paradise Valley Technology Committee and presented at Google Apps for Education Summits. As a BioRad fellow, she provided biotechnology professional development for teachers. She is a member and presenter for the National Science Teachers Association and the National Biology Teachers Association, and a lifetime member and awards committee member of the Arizona Science Teachers Association. Some awards include: AEOP Alumni Association All-Star, Arizona Tech Council Teacher of the Year, IEEE Pre-College Teacher of the Year, Flinn Foundation Distinguished Educator, AZ HOSA Adviser of the year, and Nobel Top Ten Educator of the Year. Marni holds a B.S. in biology from Arizona State University and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. She is certified in secondary biology and career & technical 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.