By Mark Ambrogi

Lori Bing’s passion for teaching and her students has been rewarded.

The Zionsville Community High School teacher has been chosen as the 2015 Outstanding Biology Teacher for Indiana by the National Association of Biology Teachers.

“I’ve been fortunate in my 25 years of teaching to work with such outstanding colleagues,” Bing said. “So many of them are so well deserving of an award like this. To be able to be singled out and honored is quite humbling.”

Candidates are judged on their teaching ability and experience, cooperativeness in the school and community, inventiveness, initiative and student-teacher relationships. Bing will be recognized at a special honors luncheon at the NABT Professional Development conference in Providence, R.I., in November and at the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc. conference in Indianapolis in February.

This is the sixth school year Bing has taught at ZCHS. Bing, who previously taught 19 years in Iowa, began teaching at ZCHS when her husband transferred to the Dow AgroSciences corporate campus in Indianapolis.

ZCHS principal Tim East’s son, Tony, had Bing as his genetics teacher.

“I have firsthand knowledge of Mrs. Bing’s dedication to each of her students and exemplary skills as an educator,” East said. “The highest praise I can bestow on any teacher is my personal thanks that they have touched the life of my own child.”

This is Bing’s fourth year teaching Advanced Placement biology at ZCHS.

“Our AP biology numbers have gone way up and that’s all I’m teaching this year,” Bing said.

Bing is pleased so many students are considering careers in biology or related fields.

“I have a lot of students interested in some aspect of medicine or genetics or even bio-medical engineering,” she said. “I always say that I don’t have to go to work every day, I get to go to school. I’m just so fortunate to work with students that are interested and ask great questions. They’re curious and whatever I can do to foster that curiosity is what my goal is.”