Dave has been a Chemistry teacher at Big Sky High School for twenty-some years and has served as the Science Department Co-Chair for more than a dozen years. Dave came to Big Sky High School with a B.S. in Zoology from Idaho State University (1986) and eventually earned a M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Montana (2000). He has been involved in several inquiry-based curriculum development projects and trainings. Most notable of these has been the Frameworks for Inquiry Chemistry Project with Dr. Mark Cracolice at The University of Montana Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Along with five other Chemistry teachers from around Montana, they developed a unique High School Inquiry Based Chemistry curriculum. Dave has also worked with the Center for Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Montana on air quality related projects designed to bring project based learning experiences to high school chemistry students.
Dave received the 2009 Gustav Ohaus Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the 2006 NSTA Vernier Technology Award, the 2005 Best Buy TEACH Award, and the 2005 ACS Division of Chemistry Education Northwest Region Teaching Excellence Award.
Dave’s basic science teaching philosophy is that students learn science concepts best when they can relate concepts directly to data from experiments they conduct themselves.
Dave is an avid climber, skier, and biker, and cannot bear the thought of spending his free time indoors.
Missoula, MT
United States