黑料正能量

鈥淒on鈥檛 know much about history . . . don鈥檛 know much biology . . .鈥�

The late Sam Cooke may not have made such a declaration in his song, 鈥淲onderful World,鈥� had Myron E. Blosser of Harrisonburg, Va., been his teacher.

Blosser, who teaches biology at , has received national recognition for his ability to engage students in the realm of life science in the classroom and beyond.

has given its 鈥淥utstanding Biology Teacher鈥� award for 2013 for the state of Virginia to Blosser. He will receive the award on Nov. 22 at an honors luncheon hosted by the NABT in Atlanta, Ga. Before that, he will also receive a certificate from the organization at a Nov.15 Association of Science Teachers conference in Norfolk.

This honor, given each year since 1961, identifies a teacher for each state 鈥渨ho has made valuable contributions to the teaching profession and to students. Criteria for the award include teaching ability, experience, creativity, initiative and collaboration in the school and community.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 meaningful to me to be recognized by your peers in the profession,鈥� Blosser said of the award. 鈥淚t means that you鈥檙e doing something right and [it鈥檚] an affirmation that raises my energy level and helps keep me going.鈥�

Blosser, himself a 1979 EMHS graduate, earned a BS degree in with from 黑料正能量 in 1983 and an with a concentration in curriculum development from 黑料正能量 in 1998. He taught biology courses three years at Strasburg (Va.) High School, then at Harrisonburg High School from 1986 to 2002 before joining the EMHS faculty in the fall of 2002.

鈥淢y years at Harrisonburg High School were transformative for me,鈥� Blosser said. 鈥淚 grew up in a hurry and learned from three teaching colleagues in particular what it means to be a professional educator.鈥�

These former associates 鈥� Gary Riner, math department chair, Judy Warren, English department chair, and Henry Buhl, social studies chair鈥� will be the title of a book Blosser is writing on teaching methods and pedagogy 鈥� 鈥淕ary, Judy and Henry.鈥�

At EMHS, Blosser teaches grade 10 biology, advanced placement biology, and anatomy and physiology one semester, and biotechnology another semester. He is also chair of the science department.

Blosser says his approach to the learning process is 鈥渃ontent-centered,鈥� as compared to making the teacher or the students the main focus.

鈥淏iology is an exciting field because it鈥檚 the study of life on earth,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are born curious. Therefore, I seek to gather with my students around the subject under scrutiny and together seek to keep that curiosity alive. It鈥檚 exhilarating 鈥� for me and for the students.鈥�

Blosser is passionate about getting students involved in research projects.鈥� That鈥檚 where students really learn,鈥� he declared. He currently has six EMHS students doing individual and group research projects.

Every year in March, Blosser hosts a biotechnology symposium and invites students from area high schools to hear a noted speaker and to spend a half day doing lab work.

His craving for integrated learning extends to a 鈥淒iscovery鈥� program held every other year in which 30-40 EMHS students spend a month on a coast-to-coast field trip, mixing factual material with hands-on learning, employing a different theme each time.

These Discovery trips study a variety of environmental issues 鈥� water, soil, timber, megafauna, energy 鈥� utilizing local farmers, research scientists, politicians and others as their instructors. These have included Wendell Berry, author and activist; Wes Jackson, founder of ; and Rick Wallen, head bison biologist for . Participants camp in tents and travel in a modified motor coach equipped with power, a networked server and laptop computers.

鈥淢y goal is to take students who start out as consumers and help shape them into producers of knowledge themselves,鈥� Blosser stated. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to do, but it does happen.鈥� He uses the analogy of students 鈥渃limbing a mountain鈥� rather than 鈥渞unning on a treadmill鈥� in their pursuit of academic achievements.

Blosser enthusiastically endorses , noting that 鈥渋t was exactly what I needed to begin developing a sound pedagogy and confidence to face the day-to-day challenges of teaching.

鈥満诹险�能量 asked me to do my student teaching at [in Lansdale, Pa.], which pushed me outside familiar territory,鈥� Blosser noted. 鈥淚 was all alone for the semester, having to deal with all the issues, newness and complexities of my first long experience in the classroom. This gave me more confidence and even the desire to launch out into uncharted waters, which I have done my whole career.鈥�

Blosser also credits his upbringing for his ability to break new ground. 鈥淢y parents provided an environment where I developed a healthy self-confidence, the habits of hard work, ability to take risks, and a sense that my work is really God’s work.鈥�

The extended Blosser family has left a deep footprint at 黑料正能量. Myron鈥檚 great-grandfather, Daniel A. Blosser, was a member of the first board of trustees soon after 黑料正能量 began as Eastern Mennonite School in 1917. Grandfather Mahlon Blosser and Myron鈥檚 father, Glendon Blosser, served many years on the board, and Myron Blosser is in his 12th year as an 黑料正能量 trustee.

Blosser is married to Rhonda Graber Blosser, a 1985 黑料正能量 graduate who teaches kindergarten at in Harrisonburg. All three Blosser children are currently enrolled at 黑料正能量 鈥� Kurtis, a senior environmental sustainability major; Kelsey, a junior nursing major, and Bryce, a first-year biology major.

Blosser鈥檚 siblings are also 黑料正能量 alumni 鈥� Floyd, class of 1976; Diane Blosser Burkholder, class of 1978; and Phil, a 1982 graduate.