Ann Iddings Brokaw is a science teacher at Rocky River High School. She teaches sophomore biology and junior/senior AP biology; she has been teaching for 15 years. Ms. Brokaw mentors students and assists teachers in the science department. She is known in her school for supporting and supervising student independent research studies, with as many as 60 students pursuing projects at one time.
Ms. Brokaw is known as a teacher who inspires others. She is committed, adaptable, and knowledgeable. She establishes a positive rapport with all students and has mentored at-risk students. Ms. Brokaw is interested in ensuring all students succeed in biology and has developed courses of study for both special needs students and AP biology students. She was the long-term advisor (four years) for a student who ultimately won national and international awards for his genetics project, the first such award for the school and community. She continually focuses on her own professional development to improve her teaching, most recently completing a summer immunology research fellowship at Case Western Reserve University. She tracks various metrics of successful teaching; if she determines a particular method is not working, she modifies it.
Ms. Brokaw received the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Ohio from the National Biology Teacher’s Association; Radioshack™ National Teacher Award for Science Education; Teacher of Merit, Intel Science Talent Search; and Teacher of the Year, Rocky River City Schools.
Ms. Brokaw holds State certification in biology, chemistry, and earth science (grades nine through twelve) and all sciences (grades seven and eight). She has a B.A. in biology from Wittenberg University and an M.A. in biology from Kent State University. She has also completed graduate courses in education.