Esther H. Freeman, chemistry teacher at Tabb High School in Yorktown, Va., has received the Southeast Regional High School Chemistry Teaching Award from the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. The award was presented at the 51st Southeast Regional meeting on October 17 in Knoxville, Tenn.
Freeman said, "My current goal is to make teaching chemistry fun for younger teachers by sharing materials, mentoring, and staying heavily involved in elementary and middle school outreach programs."
Freeman's teaching style is music to her student's ears. She sets chemical demonstrations to music - for example a color experiment accompanied by the song, "Rainbow Connection." She also emphasizes laboratory experiences that use everyday items to bring realism to chemistry. This innovative teaching encourages her students to participate in science fairs. Since 1996, Freeman has served as her school's science fair coordinator. In addition to her work with students, she is a mentor for young chemistry teachers.
In 1992, Freeman received Teacher of the Year awards from Tabb High School and York County. Most recently, she won the ACS Hampton Roads Section's Teacher of the Year award. In addition, Freeman was the state level recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Freeman is a member of the American Chemical Society, Tidewater Alliance of Chemistry Teachers, Virginia Association of Science Teachers and the National Science Teachers Association. She received her bachelor's degree in chemistry from Radford College and her masters from the University of Virginia.
Freeman resides in Poquoson, Va.
A nonprofit organization with a membership of nearly 159,000 chemists and chemical engineers, the American Chemical Society publishes scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences, and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. (http://www.acs.org)