Oct. 21, 2024 | Emily Reier '28
Cheston Saunders ’09 received the 2024 Two-Year College Biology Teaching Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), in recognition of his transformational teaching and assessment methods and commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for students historically underserved in biology.
A science instructor at Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, NC, Saunders has over a decade of experience teaching science with the North Carolina Community College System. His interest in two-year colleges began while taking community college courses during high school. As a first-generation college student, the dual-enrollment program afforded him the opportunity to gain valuable college experience, and later earn his degrees in biology, chemistry, biology education and leadership.
Saunders’ innovative curriculum activities and research have been published in The American Biology Teacher, The Science Teacher, Science Activities, Life Sciences Education, and the Journal of College Science Teaching.
He is also involved with two national organizations to improve college science education: Inclusive Environments and Metrics in Biology Education and Research (iEMBER) and Factors Affecting Learning, Attitudes and Mindsets in Education Network (FLAMEnet).
In his nomination submission, Saunders says “in my experience, the difficulties most students experience when attempting to learn science arise from incongruences between the instructor’s teaching methods and the student’s learning styles; therefore, I practice the art of curriculum differentiation as I attempt to meet the needs of all students. By understanding and applying the psychological foundations of learning to my teaching, I strive to provide the proper scaffolding which the students can then use to construct their understanding of biological processes.”
With the help and generosity of sponsors, the NABT awards recognize teachers for their expertise in specific subject areas, for contributions to the profession made by new teachers, and to recognize service to NABT, life science teaching, or leadership in learning communities.
Learn more about the NABT Awards and follow Saunders’ career journey and connect on LinkedIn. Saunders is a graduate of the UNCW College of Science and Engineering (CSE). Learn more about CSE news, programs, events, and more.
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