Barent earns statewide award for science education work

November 12, 2024

Betsy Barent has combined the molecules of knowledge, curiosity and mentorship into an award-winning science education career in Nebraska.
 
Members of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) celebrated Barent’s contributions to the profession with the NATS Catalyst Award. The award is the organization’s top honor. NATS members surprised Barent with a plaque and a large round of applause at their fall conference in Kearney.

 
Barent is the K-12 curriculum specialist for science at Lincoln Public Schools and has been involved in state, regional and national science education projects. She said the award announcement was one of many memorable moments she has shared with friends and colleagues over the past two decades.
 
“It has been an incredible learning experience, and for that I am so very grateful to those who encouraged me to be a servant leader,” Barent said. “I have gotten to know so many amazing educators from across the state that have influenced my practice for the better. We have worked together to support science education across the state through NATS, ESUs (Educational Service Units) and other partnerships.”

 
LPS Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Takako Olson said the award was a “huge deal” for both Barent and LPS. Barent has helped hundreds of students become interested in science through her teaching and curriculum work. She taught secondary science outside Lincoln for 18 years before joining LPS in 2019.
 
“I am beyond excited for Betsy to be recognized with the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science’s most prestigious Catalyst Award!” Olson said. “She truly deserves this honor as she prioritizes her work with our teachers so that students are capable of learning science of all kinds. She is well respected by her colleagues in science education, and it is important to acknowledge her involvement at both the state and national levels.”
 
NATS Past President Jennifer Jones and NATS President Kristen Benton both said Barent has influenced many people in a positive way. Jones hugged Barent as she gave her the Nebraska-shaped plaque. She said Barent has displayed “extraordinary dedication to science education in Nebraska” and has demonstrated a fierce kindness to fellow teachers.
 
“I was incredibly excited and honored to present the Catalyst Award to Betsy,” Jones said. “I have been lucky to work with her through various professional development opportunities in the state, and she has always been someone I admired and looked up to. I cannot remember a time when she was not heavily involved in any initiative to further science education in Nebraska.”

 
Benton remembered working with Barent at a science test writing workshop in 2018. Science teachers were adopting additional 2013 Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in Nebraska, and Barent was leading the way at the workshop.
 
“I was a relatively new teacher and had almost no training on NGSS-style teaching, and I recall being in awe of Betsy’s enthusiasm for the new standards, her level of expertise and her willingness to coach other teachers,” Benton said. “Her contributions to the group discussions, her explanations about the construction of our standards and her thorough knowledge about how to develop the assessments were, in effect, a master class on education. Betsy honestly inspired me that week to take on the challenge of pushing for change in my own district.”

 
NATS Past President Jodi Bahr spent a summer traveling with Barent across Nebraska to help teachers learn more about three-dimensional learning. Bahr, who joined the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Board of Directors in 2022, said Barent has been an inspirational role model.
 
“Betsy has always encouraged me and pushed me to be a better leader in our state and at the national level,” Bahr said. “She believed in me before I could believe in myself. I would say that Betsy has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and is always pushing me to achieve my goals.”
 
Barent graduated from Simpson College in 1993 and earned a master’s degree in biology and biological sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1995. She has served as NATS president and was a two-time state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

 
Barent has led professional development sessions for science teachers from Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, and she has presented at both NATS and NSTA conferences. She has also contributed to the “Understanding Science” website developed by the University of California Museum of Paleontology.
 
Barent said she loves talking about science because it is a subject that affects everyone.
 
“I think what I enjoy most about science education is being able to share that science is so much more than a body of knowledge,” Barent said. “It is how we make sense of the world around us, as humans. We explore and discover, test ideas, share with others and experience the benefits and outcomes of our learning.”
 
Olson said Barent works well with LPS teachers because of her willingness to listen to others and her grace and flexibility in handling difficult tasks. Her conversations and decisions directly lead to quality instruction in LPS classrooms.
 
“I am confident that science education will continue to thrive in our district because of her leadership, which will benefit our students’ learning,” Olson said.
 
Jones said Barent sparks positive molecules of knowledge each day with her award-winning work ethic and dedication.
 
“She is truly deserving of this recognition,” Jones said. “It was a privilege to acknowledge her significant contributions to our NATS, Nebraska and the field of science education in general.”

To learn more about our science curriculum, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/science/.
 
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