DaNel Hogan
Department of Energy
Office of Science, Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists
Idaho – Middle School and High School Physics
DaNel Hogan has been a physics teacher at Kuna High School in Kuna, Idaho for the last five years. Previous to that, she worked for a year at the Treasure Valley Mathematics and Science Center in Boise, Idaho and for three years at Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson, Arizona. She has taught Conceptual, Advanced Placement and Concurrent College Credit Physics. Hogan has also taught Physical Science and STEM Research and served as Science Department Chair for the past five years.
Hogan earned a B.S. in Physics from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and a M.A. in Teaching from Southern Oregon University. She received the Governor’s Industry Award for Notable Teaching in Science in 2010 and was runner-up for the Thomas O. Bell Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2009. In 2010, Ms. Hogan was named a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction.
Hogan has been involved with the pilot of the Idaho STEM Competition, a statewide competition for high school students; the i-STEM Governance Committee, which brings summer STEM professional development workshops to Idaho teachers; and the Idaho National Laboratory’s Physics Teachers Workshop, which teaches nuclear energy curriculum to nation-wide physics teachers each summer. She is also on the Teacher Advisory Board with the National Energy Education Development Project and serves as a facilitator.
Working with colleagues, DaNel has helped develop mastery learning physical science courses and a STEM Academy within her high school. Students in the STEM Academy take four of their eight class periods together – mathematics, science, research and language arts. DaNel uses a variety of resources to influence her curriculum including modeling instruction and competitions like Science Olympiad, Team America Rocketry Competition, and FIRST Robotics. She utilizes a Science Expo each semester to show off the independent research of students in science classes of all levels at Kuna High School. Grants from Micron, Idaho National Lab, SAIC, and LCF Enterprises help support DaNel’s science programs.
“I believe hands-on, inquiry based instruction is vital to a successful science program, which is why I strive to bring my students the richest learning experiences possible.”
Hogan is serving her fellowship in the Department of Energy, Office of Science, Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists.