Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Biology Blog

Alumnus John Maddux stands in his classroom. He holds the National Association of Biology Teachers’ (NABT) Outstanding Biology Teacher Award.
Alumnus John Maddux stands with the National Association of Biology Teachers’ (NABT) Outstanding Biology Teacher Award.

Alumnus John Maddux receives national recognition for outstanding teaching

The award comes from the National Association of Biology Teachers.

November 9, 2021 by Ashley Lenahan

Quality teaching demands recognition outside of the classroom. 

John Maddux is an alumnus of the biology department at Missouri State University and teacher at Festus Senior High School.  

He recently received the National Association of Biology Teachers’ (NABT) Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. 

Maddux shares how his award-winning teaching fuels the reward of student success.  

Explore MSU’s biology program 

Tending to student growth 

Maddux views his role as a teacher as comparable to that of a gardener.  

Like with a garden, building a safe environment for learning key skills is crucial to fostering growth in the classroom, he shares.  

“It’s students who have to do the growing. And sometimes factors outside of the space in which we tend to their needs will help or hinder that growth,” he said.  

“But quality teaching based in a safe, supportive learning environment can yield students who continue growing in knowledge for the rest of their lives.” 

Key practices for sustaining learning 

As a teacher, Maddux strives to foster sustainable learning practices. This means shaping students into informed citizens as much as active classroom participants. 

The goal has led Maddux to take an interactive approach to leading instruction. 

“I provide students opportunities to have challenging conversations and put their arguments into writing,” he said. “I also aim to teach them how to gather evidence that answers their own questions and how to collaborate with peers to solve problems.” 

With these practices, Maddux aims to overcome barriers posed by simply memorizing details of class curriculum. 

Crossing these barriers can be key to supporting public awareness among students, he stresses.  

“We need students to be smart, capable and empathetic citizens,” Maddux said. “Helping them build knowledge is crucial to making the world of tomorrow a better place than it is today.” 

His path to career success 

Maddux received a Knowles Teaching Fellowship before beginning his first year as a teacher. 

The program is led through the Knowles Teacher Initiative. It serves to offer professional support to secondary math and science teachers in the United States.  

“I can’t emphasize how much the fellowship experience impacted my teaching,” Maddux said. “The support of Knowles and the other teachers in my cohort helped shape my long-term path in the teaching discipline.”  

Maddux started his teaching career at the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. 

He credits the school with providing him early freedom in exploring his teaching practice and exposure to diverse cultures and perspective.  

Maddux eventually joined the Festus R-VI School District, where he continues teaching today. 

The experience teaching at Festus Senior High School has been equally as impactful, he shares. 

“At Festus, I have had wonderful opportunities to collaborate with outstanding teachers. This has pushed me to learn from others,” Maddux said. “Winning the NABT award wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my Festus colleagues.”  

What to expect when you’re expecting (to teach) 

Much like parenting, Maddux explains, the experience of teaching is difficult to imagine. 

“Everything changes, which makes for a nonstop learning experience,” he said.  

Preparing for all conditions of teaching can be challenging. But there’s one thing Maddux suggests all students as budding teachers bring to the classroom: excitement.  

“The newness of being in your own classroom where you can feel like a real teacher is something to be excited about,” he said. “There’s great reward in leading classroom practices that build students’ capacity to serve as lifelong learners.” 

About the NABT award 

NABT grants one Outstanding Biology Teacher Award in each state or territory each year.  

Teachers must receive a nomination to be eligible for the award. They must also submit an application, a teaching video, letters of recommendation and teaching essays to qualify. 

A NABT review committee makes ultimate award decisions in each state or territory.  

“I have been a member of NABT since my second year of teaching. It’s the professional organization I have been most inspired by as a biology teacher,” Maddux said. “I think very highly of the organization. For them to reflect that view back on me feels like a true accomplishment.” 

Learn more about NABT 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: alumni, John Maddux

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Environmental biology student awarded Stan Hudson grant from Missouri Native Plant Society
  • Missouri State biology graduate student wins Missouri Birding Society scholarship
  • Biology department brings buzz to Austin
  • A beacon for bats and bears
  • How our warming world is affecting some bumble bees

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • May 2022
    • March 2022
    • January 2022
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • January 2016
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013

    Categories

    • News
    • Research
    • Uncategorized

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
    • Last Modified: November 10, 2021
    • Accessibility
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
    • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
    • Contact Information