The Arizona Bioindustry Association has named Marni Landry, BS, M.Ed of Paradise Valley High School as the 2016 Michael A. Cusanovich Bioscience Educator of the Year in recognition of her dedication in the classroom and her commitment to designing bioscience education programs and curriculum to help inspire and create tomorrow’s bioscience leaders.
Marni Landry working with students at the Paradise Valley High School CREST program
“Great educators open our eyes to possibilities. Their work inspires new generations and lays the groundwork for tomorrow’s miracles.” shared Joan Koerber-Walker, President and CEO of the Arizona Bioindustry Association. “For those of us who may have left the classroom years ago, they create for us the gift of future scientists, engineers, medical professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Through her work in the classroom and as a leader in our community, Marni Landry has inspired us all.”
Students call her “Mrs. Landry”.
Marni Landry is the 2016 Arizona Bioscience Educator of the Year
In the classroom
For the last 14 years, as a life science teacher at Paradise Valley High School (PVHS), Landry has inspired students to explore the life sciences. In addition to her work in the classroom, Landry authored the curriculum for and teaches a four-year Bioscience sequence in the Center for Research, Engineering, Science, and Technology (CREST) program at PVHS.
She uses her vast experience in the classroom combined with a B.S. in Biology from Arizona State University and a M.Ed. from the University of Phoenix to translate complex concepts onto real life applications that encourage her students to explore the world around them and strive to make life better in the future.
In the community
As a leader in the teaching community, she serves on the Paradise Valley Technology Cadre, designing and delivering professional development to staff. She is a member of the National Science Teachers Association, a lifetime member and committee chair of the Arizona Science Teachers Association, and a contributing partner in the President’s 100K in 10 Initiative (Training 100,000 highly qualified STEM teachers in 10 years).
Together with a team of educators, university professors, and industry representatives, Landry worked to update and rewrite the Arizona CTE Bioscience Standards to ensure that students are prepared to enter the life science workforce. She also serves on the CTE Bioscience curriculum consortium.
An Award Winning Educator
Recent accomplishments include a fellowship through the US Department of State as an exchange teacher in Morocco, Nobel Top Ten Teacher of the Year, Flinn Educator of Distinction, Arizona Outstanding HOSA Advisor, Arizona High School Science Teacher of the Year, and winning The Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.
Opening the door to opportunity
Students in the CREST Bioscience program have been well-trained in laboratory technique, content matter, and research skills and have served in prestigious internships such as the Summer Helios Internship at T-Gen, Barrow’s Neurological Institute, Arizona State University Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Lab, Arizona State University Biodesign Biomimicry Lab, University of Arizona – National Institute of Health High School Research Program, and University of Arizona Agricultural Extension Service.
“It is a privilege to teach with Marni,” shared Michelle Landreville who teaches with Landry in the PVHS CREST program. “She raises the bar for students and directly impacts bioscience outcomes in Arizona.”
In recognition of her commitment to ensuring that Arizona life science students have every opportunity to succeed, Marni Landry is the Arizona BioIndustry Association’s 2016 Michael A. Cusanovich Arizona Bioscience Educator of the Year.
A ceremony honoring Marni Landry will take place at the AZBio Awards on September 21, 2016 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The AZBio Awards ceremony celebrates Arizona’s leading educators, innovators and companies. Each year, AZBio honors bioindustry leaders from across the state of Arizona who are illustrative of the depth, breadth and expertise of the bioscience industry.
Past recipients of the Michael A. Cusanovich Arizona Bioscience Educator of the Year Award include: Dr. Joan Rankin Shapiro (UA College of Medicine –Phoenix), Dr. Miles Orchinik (Arizona State University), Amanda Grimes (Mesa Biotechnology Academy), Dr. Jennifer Kahlet Barton (The University of Arizona), Dr. Nadja Anderson (The University of Arizona BIO5 Institute), Dr. Andrew Lettes, (Pueblo Magnet High School), Barbara Fransway (Arizona Research Laboratories, The University of Arizona), Margaret Wilch (Tucson High Magnet School), and Xan Simonson (Mesa High School).
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For registration and more information, go to www.azbioawards.com
About AZBio
A key component in Arizona’s life science ecosystem, the Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio) is the only statewide organization exclusively focused on Arizona’s bioscience industry. AZBio membership includes patient advocacy organizations, life science innovators, educators, healthcare partners and leading business organizations. AZBio is the statewide affiliate of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and works in partnership with AdvaMed, MDMA, and PhRMA to advance innovation and to ensure that the value delivered from life-changing and life-saving innovation benefits people in Arizona and around the world.
For more information visit www.AZBio.org and www.AZBio.TV
Contact:
Joan Koerber-Walker, Arizona Bioindustry Association
jkw@azbio.org 480-332-9636
Photos available upon request.