Jeremy Allar
OHS science teacher, Jeremy Allar, received the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for the state of Iowa through the National Association of Biology Teachers. The program recognizes an outstanding biology educator (grades 7-12 only) in each of the 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and overseas territories each year. A major portion of the nominee's career must be devoted to the teaching of biology/life science. Candidates are judged on their teaching ability and experience; cooperativeness in the school and community; inventiveness; initiative; and student-teacher relationships.
Allar had been nominated by a colleague several years ago and been a finalist. Recently, he was asked to update his information and include a video tape showing his instruction during a class period. While he appreciates the recognition, Allar said he will not change what he is doing in the classroom. "The route I've always taken is, 'What is best for the student,'" he said. "I like teaching life science and working with students."
His goal in teaching is to make himself obsolete, where students learn to take the concepts taught and apply them with confidence. He currently teaches Anatomy and Advanced Anatomy, linking instruction to the community through an organ and tissue donation awareness project.
He is active in his department, collaborating with peers regularly, and is working with area science educators to integrate Next Generation Science Standards, the federal science standards, into the Iowa Core Science Standard.
