Alicen Adkins

Moorefield, WV | 7-12, Science, 2023

Biography

Alicen Adkins has been an educator for nine years and currently teaches sixth and seventh grade science at Moorefield Middle School (MMS), part of Hardy County Schools (HCS). She previously worked at the NASA Educator Resource Center in Fairmont, WV. Alicen’s greatest joy is providing fun, authentic opportunities for students to develop the confidence and skills to unlock their fullest potential. Students in her classes are excited to do science activities like excavating real fossils to determine the geologic history of a location, using microbiology to diagnose "patients", and designing and testing earthquake-proof structures. Alicen started and co-coaches an international award–winning FIRST robotics program at HCS, boasting five robotics teams and a coding club. She serves on the MMS media and leadership teams, MMS/HCS Hiring Committees, and is the MMS/HCS Science Fair Coordinator and HCS STEM Contact. She started and coordinates MMS Science Night. Alicen has served with the WV Department of Education for curriculum, assessment, and standards reviews, and the Governor’s STEM Institute. She has consulted for NSTA and HMH. Alicen co-founded Umbrella STEM which provides PD and resources to K-12 teachers. Some of her awards include 2019 MMS Teacher of the Year, 2019 and 2020 Spirit of Hardy County Award, 2020 WV Outstanding Earth Science Teacher, Golden Apple Award for Educational Excellence, 2015 Stark Wilmoth Outstanding Student Teacher Award, and 2014 NASA Project Achievement Award for Robotics Education. Alicen has an A.S. in nuclear medicine technology and a B.A. in secondary science education from Fairmont State University, and is pursuing an M.A. in education. She is a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist and is certified to teach general science and biology.

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.