I met Jenelle Ball in Denver, CO at the Spring 2015 National ACS meeting. She is soft spoken and engaging. Jenelle’s biographical information is impressive. She earned a BS and MS in chemistry. While in graduate school, she recognized a passion for the process of teaching and learning which led her to teach high school chemistry. Most of her career has been spent at Chico Senior High School in Chico, CA. She was also fortunate to have the opportunity to take a rare sabbatical from high school teaching and earn a MA degree in teaching and learning.
Jenelle has published many articles in the Journal of Chemical Education and is active in her local ACS section. She is a leader within her school district and in the wider chemistry education community. Jenelle received several other awards before being awarded the James Bryant Conant Award for excellence teaching high school chemistry in 2015. Even though she has taught for 30 years, she feels refreshed and inspired by this honor and has no immediate plans to change directions and leave her students behind. Chico Senior High students are lucky indeed.
You can read the Journal of Chemical Education commentary, Endowing Inspiration, co-authored by Jenelle and myself and also view a video interview recorded just two days before Jenelle was officially presented the 2015 Conant award.
Find out more about past and present Conant Award recipients.