BRITTANY FRANCKOWIAK
BIOLOGY TEACHER
Wilde Lake High School
Columbia, Maryland

When Britanny Franckowiak was a high school student, the Iraq war, global climate change, stem cell research and the Human Genome Project were among the major topics occupying the national consciousness.  The complexity of these issues persuaded Brittany to switch from a career in biological research to teaching.  It is in the classroom where Brittany believes she can “contribute in addressing the complex challenges facing society by preparing and encouraging students to engage with those challenges.”

One of Brittany’s favorite teaching moments came as a teaching assistant for the research oriented Gene Team program at the University of Pittsburgh. “Students were engaged with real, current biological research and I had the opportunity to teach them laboratory techniques, and guide them through the concepts underlying their work.”  With the help of KSTF, Brittany hopes to build an environment where students are able to engage in authentic scientific work.

Brittany graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh, where she worked for three semesters as an undergraduate teaching assistant for introductory biology and two semesters working in biological research labs. She hopes to teach in the eastern part of the United States to stay close to family and friends.