This Class is a Zoo

This Class is a Zoo!

The 2017 National Teacher of the Year Award was presented today to Mrs. Susan VanBenthem, a high school Biology teacher from Albuquerque, NM.  Mrs. VanBenthem has been teaching in the Albuquerque Public School system for 5 years.  She has an innovative, hands-on approach to the subject, incorporating relevant, visual lessons and going one step farther to provide career information for the students in various scientific disciplines.  

“Everyone knows that Mrs. VanBenthem finds this subject fascinating!  Her enthusiasm is contagious,” reported a colleague in the school where VanBenthem teaches.  “For her class’s most recent assignment, students chose their favorite animal and classified it using the Biological classification system.  Then she put together a slide and video show of some of the animals they chose, based on Youtube videos the students submitted to her, and they discussed animal behaviors.  Had it been allowed, I believe Mrs. VanBenthem would have brought in the zoo.”

This, in fact, is not far from the truth.  VanBenthem did contact the zoo and invited a zoologist, zookeeper, veterinarian, and animal dietician to visit with her classes.  She also asked if the zookeeper could bring a collection of animals to the school for educational purposes.  VanBenthem, who works as a volunteer at the zoo, has been instrumental in organizing the “Mobile Zoo,” which brings animals to local Title I schools in the community.  In addition, she has been key in increasing the volunteer population at the zoo, as she encourages interested students to volunteer.   One Saturday, one hundred of VanBenthem’s students showed up to participate in the zoo’s educational volunteer program.

When asked about Mrs. VanBenthem’s  most recent assignment, one of her students replied, “I chose a lion to classify.  I’ve always thought lions were pretty cool.  You should have seen the video I found for the class to watch!    It was awesomely gory.  All the girls hid their eyes.  After the video was over, we talked about the food chain.  Mrs. VanBenthem makes Biology come to life.  She always says, “What’s not to love about Biology?””

According to Tammy Lee, the principal at the school where VanBenthem teaches, VanBenthem isn’t only interested in Biology.  She is interested in each individual student as well.  Lee states, “Besides teaching the students Biology, she is teaching them that they matter and can do something important in this world.  She is determined that each student feel they have worth and she gives as much individual attention as she can.”

One way VanBenthem gives individual attention to students is through a Blogging site.  Students frequently use this site as a safe place to ask questions and get answers about science and life.  The site is also used as a catalyst for independent research projects, matching students to professional scientists in the local area.  VanBenthem  coordinates a group of professional scientists who volunteer their time to provide scientific answers to the student questions, career information in their fields and even allow students to participate with them on research projects.  One of VanBenthem’s goals is to show the kids what being a scientist in the real world is like.  VanBenthem says, “There are so many exciting careers that originate in scientific fields, but most high school students, especially those in lower income areas, don’t have the chance to know and experience what they are.  The textbooks sure don’t tell them.  So, one of my goals is to introduce them to professionals who can explain to them what they do, so the students can see why they’re learning certain things.  Students who can see the relevance of the information want to learn more.”

One parent of a student in Mrs. VanBenthem’s class reported, “Just last year, I thought my daughter was going to drop out.  She hated school!  But, this year my daughter has a goal!  She wants to become a dietician!  She didn’t even know what that was until her class did a unit on the digestive system and Mrs. VanBenthem invited a professional dietician in to talk with the class.  Mrs. VanBenthem set up the opportunity for my daughter to experience what being a dietician is really like.  Over spring break, my daughter volunteered in the office with the dietician and loved it! This is something she never would have had done without the encouragement of her teacher .”

 You never know who will show up in Mrs. VanBenthem’s class to tell about their career!  Sometimes, this class is a zoo!