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The Trenton and Princeton ACS
sections have been jointly sponsoring the Outstanding High
School Chemistry Teacher Award since 2006. The purpose of the
award is to recognize the work and dedication of chemistry
teachers in area schools.
Early in the year, educators
from area schools were asked to nominate teachers they felt were
worthy of special recognition. The selection criteria were
teaching quality, ability to challenge and inspire students,
extracurricular work in chemistry, a willingness to keep
up-to-date in the field, and evidence of leadership and/or
active involvement within the profession.
We are pleased to
announce that Dr David Laws of the Lawrenceville
School is this year’s award recipient. A plaque was
presented to Dr. Laws at our September 23rd
meeting.
David Laws has been teaching
at The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ since 2000 and
has been Assistant Chair of the Science Department since 2005.
He Received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of
California, Berkeley in 2000 and B.S. in Chemistry, University
of Illinois, Urbana in 1995
He has published 16 papers in
various scientific journals and coauthored/ illustrated
“ChemQuizzes” (W.W. Norton), an interactive CD-ROM that helps
students understand the fundamental concepts of general
chemistry. In addition to his focus on creating a dynamic
learning environment for chemistry in his classroom, he also
coaches students to compete in Science Olympiad.
What best describes why he is
this year’s recipient are quotes from his nomination letters: …
“David’s strength is his ability to explain the complex ideas of
Chemistry in terms that all students understand.“ … “They (his
students) come to love science and are able to learn really
impressive ideas on their own,”….“Dave is a committed scientist
educator who has inspired hundreds of students to learn
chemistry”.
Congratulations from the
Executive Committees of the Trenton and Princeton ACS sections!
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