Derrick C. Wood
Chemistry Teacher
Conestoga High School
Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Teaching at Conestoga High School since 2004, Derrick instills the same passion for Chemistry that he experiences – by showing his students that Chemistry is not an exercise in futility, but is extremely relevant to their lives.
He authored Case-Studies for his High School Chemistry curriculum and uses them as an alternative and authentic way of integrating the lab component into Chemistry, giving his students the opportunity to experience science in the same way it is done outside the classroom.
Derrick has further stimulated interest through his innovative teaching methods and Independent Study projects. Derrick’s personal interests relate to Analytical Chemistry, and he has shared his knowledge and experience with numerous Independent Study students. By utilizing donated supplies and equipment, his Independent Study students took a motley assortment of parts from old, nonfunctional systems and built working Gas Chromatographs and High Performance Liquid Chromatographs. Once operational, a variety of authentic research experiments were completed using the newly revived pieces of instrumentation. These projects have given a wide variety of students the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience with instrumentation and techniques not typically observed or conducted until taking advanced courses in a college science major.
Derrick has given presentations at NSTA and ACS National Conventions where he shared his curriculum with teachers across the country. In Derrick’s opinion though, his greatest accomplishments are the students that have graduated from Conestoga with a passion for science and have pursued college majors and careers as a result of the same love for science that I embrace.
Mr. Wood received his BA in Chemistry at Drew University and a Masters in Chemistry Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Derrick is the Head Coach of Conestoga’s Science Olympiad Team, and has consistently led his students to medal in the top 5 teams at the annual State Competition.
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the 2010 Life Sciences Awards Evaluation Committee:
- Russell A. Bantham, Esquire
McLean, VA - Alan Bronstein
Chemistry Teacher
Central High School
Philadelphia, PA - Dr. Venigalla Rao
Department of Biology
The Catholic University of America
Washington, D.C. - Dr. Phillip A. Singerman
Senior Vice President
B&D Consulting
Washington, D.C.
