2016 Dare-to-Dream Recipient

Hannah Bement

Ms. Bement has an extensive background in science and environmental research. Her previous career involved environmental research positions but she realized that teaching is her true passion. She loves “seeing the spark in a child’s eyes when they make a connection to the natural world…”  She has worked with youth through internships, volunteering, and contract positions at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.

She holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology through the University of Akron in Ohio and a Master of Environmental Science Degree through the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

She is currently teaching high school science at Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA). She has a three-year provisional teaching license but in order to continue her new love of teaching as a permanent career, she will need to obtain her five-year renewable Virginia teaching license. In order to do so, she needs to complete four courses through the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia-Wise, a program tailored for teachers working towards their licensure.

Thanks to the Dare-to-Dream grant, she was able to complete three of the four classes over the summer.  She learned a lot of great teaching techniques that she plans to implement this fall while she continues teaching and finishes the fourth course required for her licensure.  She is thrilled to be adding an environmental science course at R-MA this year because it is the perfect platform to combine her love of teaching and the natural world.