About Me

Hello, my name is Celeste N. Best. I have enjoyed an amazing career as a science teacher at Oyster River High School for the past 22 years. I teach a variety of classes that are both required and electives. Currently I am teaching anatomy and physiology, forensics, and biology. Before landing in Durham at ORHS I attended Bowdoin College where I had a double major in biology and environmental studies. I entered Bowdoin dreaming of a life in a white coat as either an orthopedic surgeon or trauma surgeon, but half way through my sophomore year my priorities changed when I took my first education class. I will be honest with you and tell you it was not all about the teaching that made me change my mind from the stress filled, highly competitive life of a pre-med undergrad. The life in education excited me because I was not only at Bowdoin for an education but I was also a very successful college basketball player and the idea of teaching and being able to coach helped me to decide on my path.In my early years of teaching and coaching, I honestly thought I would only be in the classroom for a couple of years and then would move on to graduate school and perhaps a life as an athletic trainer or college level coach. And then you blink and it is 22 years later....now, I see myself as a career teacher who loves what she does.

Fifteen years ago I had no technology in my classroom and did not see the purpose to it. Then a good friend and colleague told me about a technology based grant and suggested that I should apply for it. I did and I was fortunate to receive it. Since that first grant, I have been awarded several others for myself and my district and I now teach in a digital classroom. Some of the technology I and my students use on a daily basis is an interactive white board, document camera, iPads, Dell laptops, student response systems, and Vernier probeware. I now fill many roles at Oyster River beyond a science teacher; I serve on the district technology committee, I am a technology mentor for my building, and I am involved with the building iPad initiative. I have had a blessed couple of years. In 2009 I was named NHISTE's Pat Keyes Technology Award Winner, I was awarded a 2010 Excellence in Education Award, and in 2011 I was named a NSTA-Vernier National Award Winner. I am humbled by these honors and hope that my work with other teachers will help to pay forward the amazing honors I have received.

Recently I was once again honored by my work with technology in the classroom by being named one of 50 ING Unsung Heroes for 2013. With this honor came a grant that I used to purchase 11 iPads for my classroom. In 2014 I embarked on a new journey of Flipped Learning. I began by using videos from Kahn Academy and Ck12 and really experimented with what a flipped classroom looked like and if my students would buy in to the video homework. Since 2014 I have completely flipped my classroom and I know longer "lecture" to my students in class. Notes are done at home and the experiential learning takes place in the classroom where we learn and struggle together. In 2016 I progressed to the full Flipped Learning model where students are progressing through a unit at their own pace with the opportunity to fail and revise without penalty so that true mastery of concepts are taking place. The model has been a huge success and the students engagement and successes in the classroom have far out reached my goals. Beyond Oyster River, I have the privilege of spending a lot of time working with teachers not only in New Hampshire but around the region on how to integrate technology into the classroom. I am on the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Chapter of the International Society of Technology Educators (NHISTE). I have had the privilege to present at several technology conferences such as the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference, 21^st Century Learning Conferences, and North Country Technology Conferences. Most recently I have had the privilege to work with science teachers all over the country on how to effectively use cutting-edge technology in the science classroom. In all of these venues, I have had the honor of getting to know educators who are excited about using technology to improve their teaching practices.

On a personal note, I spend my time being a wife to my amazing husband Jason and a mom to my wonderful daughter Vivian. We spend a lot of time outside during our free time and enjoy geocaching, kayaking, fly-fishing, snowmobiling and camping. The outdoors is definitely our escape and a very important part of our lives. I truly live a blessed life that allows me to pursue my passions both professionally and personally. My hope is that this website will help other teachers to find what their passion for teaching. Enjoy!