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SUNY Plattsburgh Instructor Sandra Latourelle Wins National Biology Teaching Award

Another SUNY Plattsburgh faculty member has been recognized for teaching excellence.

Sandra Latourelle ’70 G’76, an adjunct lecturer of biological sciences, recently received a teaching award from the National Association of Biology Teachers, which honored her for her creativity and innovation.

"I can't think of a more deserving person for this award than Sandy. She loves teaching science and has dedicated her life to it,” said Dr. Nancy Elwess, a SUNY Plattsburgh professor of biological sciences, herself a winner of numerous teaching excellence awards – including an award for mentoring from President Obama.

Decorated Career

Latourelle has been an educator for more than four decades and has been teaching in SUNY Plattsburgh’s biological sciences department since 1996. She also holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the college.

This is not the first time she’s been recognized for her work: She was the association’s 2007 Technology Teacher of the Year (along with Elwess) and received the 2007 Frederica Hollister Professional Educator's Award from the New York state chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional honorary society of women educators.

Dr. Kathleen Lavoie, a biology professor and the college’s dean of arts and sciences, said Latourelle addresses her students’ diverse learning styles.

“She gives all of her students a chance to be heard through the lessons she offers them and provides them with authentic assessment on their assignments,” Lavoie said. “She tries to incorporate lesson plans and activities that address students who have visual, verbal, tactile, kinesthetic and/or auditory learning styles.”

SUNY Plattsburgh: A Great Setting to Teach and Learn

Latourelle said that SUNY Plattsburgh’s intimate setting gives biology educators the time and the dedication to help students become all that they can be.

“It allows students to grow, mature and feel competent to go beyond a four-year program into graduate school for research or health-related professions,” Latourelle said.

“We have the time and the dedication to help our students become all that they can be during their four-year journey with us,” she added. “We have a great track record!”

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