MHS educator fifth in district to get ‘Outstanding Biology Teacher’ honor

Some of the top scientific minds behind Mitchell High School’s science department met Monday to present one of their own with the coveted honor of South Dakota’s “Outstanding Biology Teacher.”

Tricia Neugebauer is Mitchell’s fifth instructor to receive the honor, which comes with a certificate and $1,000 from Sanford Health for Neugebauer to put toward the pursuit of science.

“I think of myself as a pretty good teacher, and you’re always trying to do new things and do a good job, but just to be validated means a lot,” Neugebauer said of receiving the award.

The MHS instructor of 15 years stands out among her peers and students not only for her expertise in the field, but also for her ability to communicate and keep science interesting.

There was the time Neugebauer was trying to demonstrate to her students a simple chemical reaction that turned into an explosion — or the time she set off all the school’s fire alarms.

No matter what the situation, she rolls with the punches and gives students something to remember beyond biology.

“I need to give kids what they can’t get out of the book,” Neugebauer said. “Anybody can read a biology book and learn from it, or any book in a classroom, but what can they not get from the book? What can I give them that’s an experience that they’ll remember?”

According to Julie Olson, fellow MHS instructor and 2005’s “Outstanding Biology Teacher,” Neugebauer never stops challenging her students and herself, from throwing out brain teasers at the start of class to educating students about DNA samples in case they should ever serve on a jury. In one activity, students pretend they have certain symptoms while classmates try to diagnose the problem and pinpoint a course of treatment. Another assignment has students produce family pedigree charts to track traits and learn about genetics.

“Tricia strives to get her students to realize all of the practical applications — the ‘Why do you need to know this?’ — in real life that biology touches,” Olson said. “Tricia’s sense of humor and calmness comes through every day … She is constantly finding professional development opportunities to make her classes better.”

Sophomore J.P. Schmitz said Neugebauer is one of his favorite teachers because she’s constantly interacting with her students and offering help and advice when it comes to lab work and assignments.

“She’s funny. She can relate to you. She can tell stories in class,” Schmitz said.

Teaching biology isn’t the only way Neugebauer connects with students. She has also organized an after-school exercise club, where kids can try anything from flag football to softball to canoeing. Neugebauer also organized an environmental science class for teachers that involved kayaking down the Missouri River.

“She just looks for challenges and throws herself in,” said MHS principal Yvonne Palli.

Neugebauer was selected by the National Association of Biology Teachers, which is chaired by Olson at the state level. Olson, Bob Sprang and Jerry Opbroek — all peers and past award recipients — presented the award to Neugebauer on Monday in front of her post-lunch biology students. Sprang and Opbroek are former MHS instructors who now work in other areas of science education. Bill Hoek, now deceased, is the other MHS teacher to have received the award.

Two representatives from Sanford Health, Dr. Christine Arnold and Dr. Katherine Elizabeth McGraw, joined in Monday’s presentation. Neugebauer can apply the $1,000 award from Sanford toward classroom expenses or expanding her own knowledge of science — and she already has a good idea what she will do with the money.

“I would love to go back to a national convention,” she said. “I’ll put my leave request in now.”

Tags: outstanding biology teacher, news, award, biology