Bethel High School Biology teacher Vanessa Jones speaks about connections between the components for zombie fires, discussed and written by her Honors Biology students, on April 23. Jones is an Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Top-10 Finalist. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun
Bethel High School Biology teacher Vanessa Jones looks over a student's work during Honors Biology on April 23. Jones is an Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Top-10 Finalist. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun
Vanessa Jones teaches her Honors Biology class on April 23.
Vanessa Jones is not the science teacher most people remember from high school. She doesn’t have textbooks in her classroom, and she doesn’t have her students memorizing facts.
Jones uses a phenomenon-based storyline approach to teaching, and her students work together to solve science mysteries.
On most days, they are working in teams “like real scientists,” brainstorming, “coming up with ideas, as…
