GFS Teacher Named 2006
Outstanding Biology Teacher in Pennsylvania

Germantown Friends School science teacher Gen Nelson has been named 2006 Outstanding Biology Teacher of Pennsylvania by the National Association of Biology Teachers. The award was presented in conjunction with Prentice Hall and the Duquesne University Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. Gen received the award in October at the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the conference, Gen led a workshop entitled "Epidemiology, ELISA and HIV. " Participants in this hands-on workshop experienced a simulated disease outbreak and worked cooperatively to identify the source of the epidemic.  Then they performed an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and discussed how this technique can be used to teach a variety of concepts such as antigen-antibody interactions and diagnostic technologies.

Celebrating the 2006 Outstanding Biology Teacher in Pennsylvania Award are (L-r) Head of school Dick Wade, Gen Nelson, science department chair Ken Aldridge.

Gen teaches Biology and Advanced Biology at GFS, where she has been extremely active in the school community since 1989, supplementing her impressive instruction by having served as the science department chairperson and currently serving as the science olympiad team coach. She co-teaches an innovative biology class for Germantown Friends and Girard College students funded by the Edward E. Ford Foundation. Her formal training includes a BA from Cornell University and a MS from the University of Pennsylvania.

The news of Gen's award was televised by Action News on channel 6 (ABC).

Gen Nelson has been highly active in the area of professional growth throughout her distinguished career. She has attended the Coldspring Harbor Leadership Institute in Human and Molecular Genetics, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Biology Institute, and she has served as a multiple-year presenter at National Association of Biology Teacher conferences. In addition, Gen has served as a master teacher at the Villanova University Mathematics and Science Summer Research Institute and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education Summer Institute for Teachers. Gen was also involved in the development of Access Excellence, a web site for biology and health teachers that was initiated by Genentech and is now sponsored by the National Health Museum.

Gen, who has been called an "outstanding biology educator" by the National Association of Biology Teachers, has also received the Radioshack National Teaching Award and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

The National Association of Biology Teachers is extremely proud of her accomplishments, said NABT state director Mark Krotec. “It is clear that Germantown Friends School is fortunate to have such a gifted and dedicated educator. Ms. Nelson continues to have a profound impact on hundreds of students, as well as her professional colleagues from across the state and nation. She truly is an outstanding biology educator." Gen is also the recipient of the 2002 Radioshack National Teaching Award and the 2001 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

The Outstanding Biology Teacher Award, given annually since 1961, identifies a teacher from each of the United States, its possessions, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and Canada who has made valuable contributions to the profession and to his/her students. Criteria for the award include teaching ability, experience, inventiveness, initiative, inherent teaching strengths, and cooperativeness in the school and community.

In addition to the award certificate, Gen will receive precision binoculars by Prentice Hall (sponsor of the award), a microscope by Leica Microsystems, a video flex camera system from Ken-A-Vision, and $1,000, generously provided by the Duquesne University Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.