Katy Dornbos

Firth, NE | 7-12, Science, 2021

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

My students and their families. High school students can detect an enthusiastic teacher, and one that cares about excellence. I believe students thrive when big things are expected of them, and my students know this. I believe that making a difference needn't wait till high school graduation. Seeing my students rise to challenges in and out of the classroom, and accompanying them as they pivot to meet them, is what motivates me to pursue excellence in STEM teaching.

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

Seeing my STEM students take complete ownership of presenting their research to our school board, after having raised $11,000 in community support in one semester, to develop two outdoor learning areas for our high school campus. I am candid when I present and share with teachers; sharing what has worked for me, and welcoming their responses, has helped them blossom and become more comfortable in their own skin. I don't think I could hope for a better impact than to help teachers, and students, become more themselves in the classroom.

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

I hope to invest in teachers, to remind them of the grandeur hidden within the daily interactions in the classroom. That it all matters: seating charts, answer keys, grading, second and third trials - all of it matters in the work of forming a young person. Through paying attention to the student in front of them, teachers can build confidence, accompany students through their uncertainties, and foster their curiosity at the world around them.

Biography

Kathryn “Katy” Dornbos has taught chemistry, Dual-Credit Chemistry, and physics for 15 years: 12 at Norris High School, where she also serves as high school science department chair, and three at Millard West High School. Katy has mentored new teachers, student teachers, and practicum students. At the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) conference, ChemEd, and school districts, Katy runs sessions on assessment, imagination in chemistry, modeling, POGIL, graphing, and data analysis. She served as Chemistry Instructor in 2015 and 2016 for the Keep Improving Content Knowledge & Skills3 (KICKS3) project in Nebraska, focused on developing content knowledge and pedagogy for K-12 science teachers. Katy’s students interview local, national, and international researchers for their project “Chemistry & the Citizen.” Every year, Katy organizes a field trip to introduce students to research in areas such as engineering, nutrition, athletics, geology, and agriculture. One semester, Katy’s students asked such nuanced questions about the discovery of the neutron that she contacted a physics professor at the University of Nebraska who was so impressed by their questions that he came to visit and have a conversation with them in person. Katy has grown the dual-credit chemistry program at Norris High School from nine students to 60+ opting to take this second year of chemistry. She has secured over $6,000 in grants from the American Chemical Society and district foundations for lab equipment, chemistry competitions, and service projects. At the University of Nebraska Lincoln, Katy earned a B.S. in nutrition science & dietetics and an M.A. in teaching, learning, and teacher education. She is certified in dual-credit chemistry and 7-12 natural science.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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