July 24 2002

La Salle Graduate Mary Scott Named Outstanding Biology Teacher In Pennsylvania By The National Association of Biology Teachers

Botany, cellular division, and genetics are all challenging subjects. But an even bigger challenge is trying to get a classroom full of teenage boys interested in these topics.

Mary Scott, the 2002 recipient of the Outstanding Biology Teacher in Pennsylvania honor from the National Association of Biology Teachers, is a science teacher at Philadelphia's North Catholic High School for Boys, and she gets the students involved by using food.

"Boys love to eat," said Scott, who obtained her bachelor and master degrees at La Salle University. "Anytime I can incorporate food in any of our labs that is what I do. There was one lab where we brew root beer."

"I keep all kinds of snacks in a drawer and the kids know that if they forget their lunch or do not have money for lunch that Ms. Scott has got them covered," said the Oxford Circle resident.

Annette O'Connor, Scott's former teacher and chair of La Salle's biology department, nominated her for the award. O'Connor and Scott are currently colleagues at La Salle, where Scott is an adjunct professor teaching a biology lab course in the evening specifically for biology majors and a lecture for non-biology majors.

"She was always interested and curious and particularly good at labs," said O'Connor. "She was also generous with her time and helped other students. I cannot stress enough her commitment to her students. She wants them to learn and she uses creative ways to attract their attention and get them involved in doing science rather than just observing," O'Connor added.

"Mary has dedicated her life to science education and to young people and that is what makes her a great teacher," said O'Connor.

"I always tell my students that I can't force them to love science as much as I do, but I can teach them how to appreciate it and show them how if affects their daily lives," said Scott.

"Ms. Scott always did something extra to make class more interesting," said John Biondo, who was graduated from North Catholic in 2000.

After being nominated, Scott had to write an essay and submit letters of recommendation from fellow faculty members and students. She was notified that she won the night of North Catholic's Baccalaureate Mass in June.

"At first I thought it was a joke, but it was real," said Scott. "I was shocked. I really was completely stunned."

"I always thought I wanted to be a doctor, but when the time came I just could not get motivated to send in my applications to medical schools. Then I started teaching CCD (Continuing Christian Development) classes at St. Martin of Tours and that is where it hit me - this is what I wanted to do," said Scott. "It made sense. I was the kind of kid who was always playing school in her basement, and I love working with young people. They are more than just a bunch of kids who come into my room for 42 minutes a day. I make time to sit down and talk with them, and they will eventually open up to me."

Her students realize her concern and know they can go to Scott and talk about anything from school to their social and home lives.

"It was the things Ms. Scott did outside the classroom that really made a difference too," added Biondo, currently a sophomore at La Salle. "She always went to sporting events and dances and moderated different things. She would become your friend outside the classroom and that would make it easier to learn from her inside the classroom."

"The boys know they can come to me," said Scott. "I am forever after school at North talking and working with the students. If they are having problems understanding the day's lesson, we will start from scratch until they get it down."

In addition to teaching, Scott is her department's chairperson, and she sits on several committees, and is moderator of the ice hockey and baseball teams.

"Being involved in the students extra-curricular activities helps me be more connected to them and builds a stronger teacher-student relationship," she said.

Scott was graduated from La Salle with a bachelor's degree in biology in 1994. After she started teaching, she enrolled at La Salle again, to obtain a master's in education.

"Going back to La Salle for my master's degree was an easy decision. I had a comfort level there, so La Salle felt like home. On top of that, I had friends rave about the education program, and as I went through it I could see why. Every professor has a passion for teaching and it is very easy to learn from someone who cares so much about what they are teaching," Scott said.

"I got a 4.0 in my master's program and, I loved every minute of it," she added.

Scott is coming up on her seventh year of teaching at North Catholic and admits she was a bit intimidated at first about teaching in an all boys' school.

"I was nervous when I first started. I came in during the middle of the year and it was an adjustment for the students and for me, but now I love it! It really is a lot of fun. You have to have a sense of humor, especially when you are teaching all boys," said Scott.

The National Association of Biology Teachers is dedicated "to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all."

Scott will officially accept her award at the National Association of Biology Teachers Conference being held in Cincinnati, Ohio in November 2002.

"My being recognized as Outstanding Biology Teacher is because I have surrounded myself with other great educators," said Scott. "First my parents, who were my first teachers, my fellow faculty at North and
La Salle, and my students because a good teacher learns as much from her students as they do from her."

---Kim Dugan