Science Star: North Star teacher earns prestigious award for science education

April 29, 2025

Karen Covil’s ability to cultivate scientific knowledge in the classroom has helped her reap one of the top teaching awards in the country.
 
The North Star High School science teacher is one of six recipients of the Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award from the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). The organization recognizes people who have showcased excellent and innovative approaches to the field of science education. Hundreds of K-12 classroom leaders from 17 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were eligible to receive the award during the 2024-25 school year.

 
Covil has worked at North Star since 2012 and has taught biology, geoscience, physical science, chemistry and physics classes. She said it is fulfilling to help others make discoveries in subjects ranging from microbiology to meteorology.
 
“My students ask challenging questions, which motivates me to keep investigating and learning more about science for myself and my classes,” Covil said. “I thrive on these challenges, and teaching science at North Star is like going on a daily adventure with the students and the science content.”
 
North Star Principal Megan Kroll said she was thrilled when the NSTA announced that Covil had won the award. Kroll said Covil has a gift for helping students see how science connects to their daily lives. She has created engaging lesson plans, included STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) content in her presentations, asked students to express their perspectives and invited local professionals and scientists to visit her classroom.
 
“Karen is very deserving of this award,” Kroll said. “She is one of many teachers in our building who go above and beyond for students. I am both excited and appreciative that others are seeing the amazing things LNS teachers are doing and the positive impact they have on the Gator community.”

 
NSTA President Alicia Conerly said Covil had earned her spot as a Yager recipient. NSTA judges chose winners based on their ability to motivate and challenge students, exhibit effective planning and presentation skills and display a deep knowledge of science through publications and presentations. Recipients have also participated in professional growth activities across the United States with fellow science teachers.
 
“Transformative science education equips students with the skills and mindset to question, explore and innovate,” Conerly said. “This award reflects Dr. Robert E. Yager’s legacy of innovation and dedication to science education, recognizing educators who go above and beyond to engage, challenge and empower the next generation of scientific thinkers.”
 
Covil said her undergraduate experiences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln gave her a solid foundation for her future teaching career. She took a wide variety of upper-level biology, chemistry and physics courses to complete her horticulture degree. She has passed on that broad spectrum of knowledge to her North Star classes.

 
“It has enabled me to help students understand that the different science subject areas are interconnected, and that even if they are taking physics, a phenomenon they are studying in my classes may also include biology or chemistry content,” Covil said. “These connections facilitate deeper sense-making and retention of science content.”
 
Covil enjoyed the same types of learning experiences as a graduate student in plant pathology at North Carolina State University. She researched diseases affecting Irish potatoes and explored plant breeding with potatoes, soybeans and dry beans. She also worked with crop growers to reduce pollution from fertilizers and published a journal article about fungicide and nematicide tests.
 
“These skills have enabled me to submit proposals for presentations at science education conferences and write journal articles to help support the greater science teaching community,” Covil said. “Conducting research for my graduate degree in plant pathology has given me real-world experience in science and the value of helping students connect with scientists to drive engagement with science content and future career interests.”

 
Covil has used her research and teaching background to spread science information across the United States. She co-authored a research paper about mentoring student teachers in science classrooms in 2024 that was included in the Innovations in Science Teacher Education journal. She presented “Teaching Physics with Real World Support: Collaborating with Local Organizations and Universities to Foster Equitable and Inclusive Learning Environments for High School Students” the same year at the NSTA National Conference in Denver.
 
Covil said one of her top goals is to create a classroom environment where all students feel valued and can express their questions and ideas. She said it is important to help them know that their unique contributions to scientific exploration are fundamental to understanding our world of scientific phenomena.
 
Covil has also been inspired by her North Star co-workers, especially those who serve with her in the science department. She said their passion for cultivating scientific knowledge has given many Gators the tools they need to be successful in life.
 
“Being in this type of environment as an educator brings a deep level of satisfaction with my teaching responsibilities and motivates me to do my very best work every day,” Covil said. “It also allows me to look for new and innovative ways of teaching science with the knowledge that I am well-supported in my decisions as a science educator.”

Want to know about our science curriculum? Visit our website at https://home.lps.org/science/.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

---