The National Association of Biology Teachers recently announced Miranda Thornton of Basha High School will receive the 2023 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award OBTA for the state of Arizona.

Given annually since 1961 to a teacher from each U.S. state, Washington D.C., US Territories, and Canada, this honor recognizes a teacher who has made invaluable contributions to the profession, enhancing the teaching of biology.

Criteria for the award include teaching ability, experience, innovation, initiative, positive student-teacher interactions, and collaboration in the school and community.

Thornton teaches biotechnology courses for the Career and Technical Education program at Basha, where she’s been for the past 11 years.

Thornton has been teaching science courses for the past 18 years, starting with Payne Junior High School in Queen Creek and Chandler Online Academy.

Thornton has also worked with the Arizona STEM Acceleration Project at Arizona State University to reimagine the STEM education ecosystem.

At Basha, Thornton has guided several students to state and national competitions as an advisor for HOSA (Future Health Professionals), coaches girls flag football and advises the ski club.

Thornton prides herself on creating an inviting classroom, “engaging the students to create a purpose for what they are learning. Students want to know why they are doing something and how it can help them,” wrote Ms. Thornton of her teaching philosophy.

“Ms. Thornton’s commitment to providing her students with hands-on learning experiences and access to cutting-edge lab technologies is impressive, as is her dedication to student success both inside and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Daryn Stover, the OBTA director, in a news release.

In November, the NABT will give a special presentation to OBTA winners at the national conference in Baltimore.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org