Name:	Vana J. Richards
Works For:	Kenneth J. Carberry Intermediate School Emmett, ID
Email:	Click here to Email Vana.

Biography:
This is the beginning of my 39th year of teaching and I have no plans for retirement. I received a BA from Humboldt State University in California in 1968, and my California teaching certification in 1969. Since then I have taught in California, Puerto Rico, and for the last 30 years in Idaho. I have taught at every grade level from preschool through adult education classes. I currently teach 5th grade at Kenneth J. Carberrry Intermediate School, a NASA Explorer School for which I'm team lead. In 2001 I was selected to become a NASA NEW teacher. My life as a teacher became charged with the passion to teach both kids and teachers the wonders, discovery, and excitement gained through integration of science throughout the curriculum. As a result, I became active in NSTA. On the state level I am the past president of Idaho Science Teachers Association and was state conference chair. Im vice-chair of the Idaho Science Math Technology Coalition, on the executive board for Idaho Space Grant Consortium, and part of the Idaho Forum on Education. I have presented session at local and state conferences and workshops, and regional and national NSTA conferences, as a NASA Messenger Fellow and Air Space Educator Cohort. Im a 2004 and 2008 state PAEMST award winner, Toyota Tapestry NSTA $10,000 grant winner and served as judge for the grant from 2006-2009. In 2009 I was selected as an American Star Teacher, Micron Outstanding Science Teacher, a Deltas award winner for Excellence in Inquiry Based Science Teaching, and was the CIBA/CESI Exemplary Elementary Science Teacher Award winner. I am a science convert and passionate not only about teaching science to kids, but also sharing how to teach science without fear with other elementary teachers.