JoAnne Wilbanks

Wilbanks’ innovative teaching idea, “Blinding You With Science,” is focused on creating an environment to help science come alive for her kindergarten students. Wilbanks’ believes kindergarten is the perfect opportunity to instill a passion for the scientific process. During each unit, she will transform her classroom into a hands-on science lab — complete with manipulatives, glowing mucus/slime and real-life insects. Additionally, she will use virtual reality equipment to help her kindergarten class dive into the ocean, rocket through space and explore the circulatory system of the human body. Wilbanks’ hopes her innovative program will inspire her students to become the next generation of scientists.