Rhonda Brown
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
Florida, High School Forensic Science and Zoology
Rhonda Brown has taught physical science, biology, zoology and forensic science classes at the middle and high school level in both Indiana and Florida for 20 years. For the past seven, Rhonda has been teaching at East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida where she became Science Department Chair in 2005.
Brown earned a B.S. in Science Education from the University of Southern Indiana and her M.Ed. at Indiana Wesleyan. She achieved National Board Certification in 2004 and was named Teacher of the Year at East Ridge High School in 2005.
In 2005, Brown was also awarded the Disney Teacherrific Outstanding Education Program award for her PACT (Preventing Adolescent Crime Together) program. The Air Force Association named Brown Central Florida STEM Teacher of the Year in 2010. Brown has written two course guides that are now part of the state curriculum in Florida – Forensic Sciences I in 2004 and Forensic Sciences II in 2006, which she co-authored. She has presented at national, state and local science conferences including the Florida Association of Science Teachers conference in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and the National Science Teacher Association conference in 2009 and 2011. In February 2011, the high school textbook Forensic Science: Advanced Investigations, co-authored by Brown, was published.
Rhonda believes that students need to see the relevance in what they are learning before they will embrace their education. “Once they can see the connections between what they are being taught and how it will impact them personally, they are much more likely to be engaged in the learning process. Getting students involved in their community to reinforce concepts enhances the classroom experience while building character and increasing community awareness.”
Brown will serve her fellowship at the National Science Foundation’s Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences.