In the News: Biology Alumna Receives Teaching Excellence Award

Corinne Zimmerman ’12, a biology teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, is the recipient of an award from the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) for Excellence in Encouraging Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI).

The award recognizes a teacher who is committed to upholding JEDI principles in their teaching and student outreach, and who also finds ways to grow student enthusiasm for biology.

“My work as an educator is grounded in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and I strive every day to create spaces where students, especially those historically underrepresented in science, feel seen, valued and empowered,” Zimmerman shared with NABT in a personal statement. “In my classroom, science is a vehicle for empowerment. I design learning experiences that are hands-on, culturally relevant, and story-driven so that students can see the connections between biology and their everyday lives. From modeling genetic diseases like sickle cell anemia to exploring environmental justice through local water supply issues, my goal is to foster curiosity, scientific literacy and self-confidence in all learners.”

Zimmerman received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Dominican University. She credited professors Dr. Alyssa Braun and Dr. Scott Kreher for enhancing her appreciation of science, particularly genetics.

“The way the information was presented definitely deepened my love for the subject itself,” Zimmerman said.

Her time as a resident assistant at Dominican introduced her to community-building, which she practices in her classroom today, she noted.

“It goes back to the idea of truth and love and leading life with compassion,” Zimmerman said of her teaching approach. “It’s trying to make sure you’re making the world fair for everyone involved, understanding that it’s not an equal playing field and we’ve got to take care of each other. And especially in science, this idea of truth and inquiry and this idea of constantly developing yourself academically and professionally. Dominican definitely set the tone for where I went based on those experiences.”

Read more about Zimmerman and the NABT award in the Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle.