Essex Tech Teacher Named Outstanding Biology Teacher Of The Year

DANVERS, MA — An Essex Tech teacher whose students mentor middle school classes on the North Shore and who works with local farms on the best ways to test their soil was named the National Association of Biology Teachers Massachusetts' Outstanding Biology Teacher for 2021.

Debora O'Reilly, who has spent the last seven years of her 23-year career at Essex Tech, stresses real-world research with her students and how to share their love of science. She has partnered with Higgins Middle School in Peabody and Marshall Middle School in Lynn in having high school students instruct the middle schools on labs and research.

She also worked with researchers at Vanderbilt University to test for certain bacteria and local farmers to collect soil samples, as well as having worked with LabXchange to bring science and labs digitally to students who may not have access to necessary resources.

"Throughout her time here, Debora has excelled as an educator and shared her passion for biology with students, staff and families," Essex Tech Superintendent Heidi Riccio said. "She is very deserving of this impressive award, and we are grateful to have her on board."

Those nominated are judged on their teaching ability and cooperativeness with students, staff and the community.

Winners of the NABT OBTA are special guests of the Carolina Biology Supply Company at an Honors Luncheon in Atlanta, Georgia, to be held later on this year. Winners also receive gift certificates, resources from sponsors, award certificates and a complimentary one-year membership to NABT.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)