VHHS Teacher Named Alabama's Top Biology Teacher

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL - The National Association of Biology Teachers this week presented Vestavia Hills High School teacher Mary Busbee with the 2018 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Alabama. This honor, given annually since 1961, identifies a teacher from each of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, other U.S. territories and Canada who have made invaluable contributions to the profession and have enhanced the learning of biology for students.

Criteria for the award include outstanding teaching ability, classroom experience, innovation, initiative, nurturing of positive relationships with students and collaboration in the school and community. Busbee will be a special guest of the Carolina Biology Supply Company at the NABT Conference held in San Diego in November 2018. A special presentation will be given by the National Association of Biology Teachers. In addition to the certificates she will be awarded, Mary will be presented with a gift certificate from Carolina Biological Supply Company and a one-year complimentary membership in NABT.

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Busbee received her BS in Biology from Judson College in Marion, AL and a Masters of Education in Secondary Science Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Busbee’s teaching career spans 12 years, including teaching for nine years at St. Clair County High School and three years at Vestavia Hills High School.

“I am constantly striving to make sure students understand how to find and evaluate information about biology that would help them make good decisions about their health, their community and their world as they reach the age to drive decisions about our shared futures.”, said Busbee.

VHHS Principal Tyler Burgess describes Ms. Busbee as, “very good at forming positive relationships with students through daily interactive teaching and an inquiry approach to instruction.”

Students emphasize that Busbee, “loves her subject matter, and ‘her enthusiasm and love for her field is contagious.” That passion is evident in Busbee’s work outside the classroom as well. Busbee was a member of the Committee that developed the 2015 Alabama Course of Study for Science. As a consultant for A+ College Ready, she teaches study sessions for students and presents two-day programs for AP Biology teachers.

She is an Executive Board Member for the Alabama Science Teachers Association and Vice President of the Birmingham Audubon Society’s Education Outreach Committee. She has also delivered professional learning sessions to science teachers during both ASTA and NABT conferences.

In addition to teaching science, Busbee is also the Key Club Advisor and sponsor of the US Biology Olympiad at Vestavia Hills High School.

Photo via Vestavia Hills City Schools