Elizabeth is proud to have been selected as a Murdock Exemplary Teacher- Researcher Awardee and terrified to talk to such a large crowd of talented educators and brilliant researchers. Elizabeth is a National Board Certified teacher and has a Master’s Degree in Education. She graduated from North Pole High School in 1992 and has taught there since 1999. In the interim between high school and teaching, she earned a BS in genetics and microbiology, subbed, and traveled with Up With People. It was her year with Up With People and the loneliness of the genetics laboratory that convinced her that she should pursue teaching. Over her teaching career, Elizabeth has had the privilege of working 7 years part time to have and raise her 3 children. As well as the joy (and struggles) of having all 3 of them in her own classes. She has led student groups in biodiversity expeditions to Belize, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos. She has been the class sponsor for multiple classes and most notably, survived running a Covid graduation outside in Alaska’s “spring.” She trained and mentored 6 new teachers and was head of her science department for 12+ years. She was also awarded the BP Teacher of Excellence in 2016. For her Murdock grant, Elizabeth has worked collaboratively with Dr. Derek Sikes of the University of Alaska Fairbanks to lead students in the study of insects that are involved with decomposition with a specific focus on fly life cycle as it relates to the outside temperature. 

Talk Title: The Maggots We Met Along the Way.