His teaching approaches include field-based research and encouraging student involvement in the community. His numerous awards include Fulbright Study Abroad in Japan and Russia, as well as the Presidential Science Teaching Award, a Christa McAuliffe fellowship, the Milken National Educator Award, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Educators’ Environmental Excellence Award. He has served as president of both the National Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching and the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association. He has an M.S. in science education with emphasis in geology from the University of Iowa and has completed course work toward a Ph.D. there.