Alum bio teacher wins national award

Chris Monsour, ’99, an AP biology teacher at Tiffin Columbian High School, has been recognized by the National Association of Biology Teachers with The Kim Foglia AP Biology Service Award.

Tiffin City Schools announced the national award – the top award an AP biology teacher can attain.

The award recognizes the AP biology teacher who displays a willingness to share materials, serves as a mentor to both students and colleagues, creates an innovative and student-centered classroom environment and exemplifies a personal philosophy that encourages professional growth as a teacher and a member of the AP biology community. 

Columbian Principal Forrest Trisler said of Chris on the TSC Facebook page: “Chris is one of the most dedicated and student-centered teachers in our district. In terms of using innovative instructional strategies, personalizing learning for students and building close and strong student-centered relationships with students, he is one of the best teachers whom I’ve encountered. Tiffin Columbian and our students are very fortunate to have him on our staff.”

In addition to mentoring new teachers, Chris is a former moderator of the AP Biology Teachers Facebook group. He shares activities from class and has helped lead review sessions for the AP Exam. He places an emphasis on reading in his course and developed a unit around the book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”

The award is sponsored by the National Association of Biology Teachers, the Neil A. Campbell Education Trust and Pearson. The award will be presented virtually in November.