HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Harrisonburg High School Biology Teacher Anna Henkel has been awarded the ’2025 Recognition in Science Education (RISE) Award in Biology,’ by the Virginia Association of Science Teachers.
‘RISE’ awards are given to highlight hard work that’s done by science educators across Virginia.
Harrisonburg High School principal Dr. Melissa Hensley said Henkel is the type of teacher who is charismatic and knows how to ‘bring her classroom to life’.
“Anna is truly invested in her students, and not only as a student, but as people, and she’s able to use that to really pull students into being excited about the world of science and specifically about the biology curriculum,” Hensley said. “She’s so invested in them that she builds courage in them to do things they didn’t think that they could do, and builds their self confidence up in a way that they actually want to give back to her. And it just creates a very unique student centered atmosphere.”
Hensley said Henkel always goes the extra mile to ensure her students are learning to the best of their ability.
“She incorporates songs to help students remember scientific concepts. And while the songs seem a little bit sometimes corny to the kids, it sticks. And so, you know, they remember those things giving the hands on opportunities through kinesthetic movement in the class to help them memorize concepts and be able to do things that … body movements and things like that, that bring back the concepts to when they’re trying to retrieve those for tests and things like that,” Hensley said.
Henkel is known to be humble and gracious to others and Hensley said she is excited to see Anna receive this type recognition.
“But Anna certainly deserves the award … She is just amazing. She’s not only a science teacher here at the school, but she’s also our SCA represent sponsor for our student council, and she has grown that program,” Hensley said. “And the school culture here at Harrisonburg High School largely revolves around the things that Anna leads and the things that Anna does here at the high school. So I’m super excited for her to just receive a little bit of recognition for the hard work that she does.”
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