Deering Biology Teacher Wins National Award
David Sproul, a longtime biology teacher at Deering High School in Portland, has won the National Association of Biology Teachers’ 2006 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Maine.
The award recognizes one biology and life science educator from each state for excellence in classroom instruction and contributions to the biology profession. Sproul will be honored on October 13 during a National Association of Biology Teachers conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sproul was a student teacher at Deering in 1982 and joined the faculty a year later. He teaches anatomy and physiology as well as biology.
“I enjoy teaching these subjects because they have real connections to everyday life,” he said. “I try to stay current by doing a lot of reading, since science and technology are forever changing.
“I try to use hands-on lab experiences whenever possible and engage students in their own learning,” Sproul said. “I also try to model a real passion for the subject matter…If I can encourage several of my students to pursue science beyond high school,” he added, “I feel I have made some contribution.”
Sproul earned his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Maine. He holds a master’s from the University of Southern Maine. He continues to grow as a teacher by attending workshops and talking to colleagues.
“I always try to incorporate at least one thing that is new and different,” he said.
