About Mrs D

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 “It’s all about the students and igniting a passion to learn.  This is the best job in the world.”

Anne Durrance (Mrs D) is excited to be teaching 5th Grade Science at South Dale Middle School.  Anne received her degree in early childhood education from Auburn University and has teacher certifications in Alabama, Georgia, and Texas.  She and husband Ben live in Ozark, Alabama; they have six children and four grandchildren

Anne began teaching in Cartersville, GA, north of Atlanta in 1982.  She took a break from the classroom while their children were young but never lost the passion for working with young learners.  “Raising a houseful of children has made me a better teacher.  Our family experienced homeschooling, private schools and public education.  Some of my own kids had vastly different learning styles and I was able to see first-hand that it’s vital to detect this and to create an environment that enables students maximum opportunities to learn and succeed.”

Teaching Science has become a passion for Anne.  “I think the greatest reward for a teacher is seeing a child’s eyes light up when a new concept is understood – and then see that same child take that knowledge and explore things on their own.  We make an extra effort to provide hands-on opportunities for students.  When they are able to build, touch, measure, and observe on their own, they get excited – and they want to learn even more.”  Anne’s former students have hatched live chickens, hosted a beekeeper with a real beehive, built and launched model rockets and studied ecosystems at the Gulf of Mexico.  She has hosted students at US Space Camp in Alabama and Texas five times.

Anne is working to introduce new technology into the classroom and is recognized as a NASA STEM teacher.  “Alabama is home to the US Space Program and Army Aviation; we gave birth to the textile industry and employ thousands in advanced automotive and aerospace manufacturing.  Alabama has some of the top scientists in the world right here in our midst.  We have every reason to expect that South Dale Middle School will produce some of tomorrow’s leaders in these fields.”

Mrs D was a presenter at the National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) annual conference in 2016 and at the Alabama Science Teacher Association (ASTA) in 2013. She was recently selected to serve on the NSTA Board for Elementary Science Education and chosen to participate in the Perot Museum Leaders of Science Program.  When she is not teaching, Anne is probably working on a new science experiment, stitching a quilt, spending time with her grands, or cheering for the Auburn Tigers football team.    

Education

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1981 - Graduated Auburn University in Early Childhood Education

1997 - 2000 training NILD (National Institute of Learning Differences)

Experience

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1981 - 1986  Primary grade teacher Bartow County Schools, Cartersville Georgia

1997 - 2009  Private school and tutoring business (NILD) Georgia, Texas

2009 – 2012  GW Long Elementary 5th grade Science, Skipperville, Alabama

2013 - 2015 Rapoport Academy Elementary, Waco, Texas

2015 - Present  Educator at Dale County Schools 

Board Member - National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) Elementary Education

Recent Recertification Training

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2010 - Science in the Rockies, Colorado

2011 - Science at Sea, Alaska

2011 - B-WET training, University of Southern Mississippi

2011 - Discovering Our Heritage, Alabama Wildlife Federation

2012 – Alabama Math and Science Technology Initiative – Catastrophic Events

2012 – NASA Educators’ Space Camp

2012 – Environmental Watershed Training, University of Southern Mississippi

2012 – Alabama Math and Science Technology Initiative – Earth and Space

2013 – Major Rivers, Texas Water Development Board

2013 – Grades 3 thru 5, Science Instruction – Region 12, Texas
2014 - Perot Museum, Leaders in Science, Chemistry and Properties of Matter