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Westhampton Beach High School science teacher Dr. Diana Gobler has earned a Regeneron STEM Teaching Fellowship through Teachers College of Columbia University. WESTHAMPTON BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Westhampton Beach High School science teacher Dr. Diana Gobler was one of 10 teachers in New York to be selected for a Regeneron STEM Teaching Fellowship through Teachers College of Columbia University.
“This opportunity will give me the chance to strengthen my skills in teaching and understanding STEM topics that I want to improve in,” she said. “Specifically, engineering and coding.”
Gobler said that every year, she has science research students who are interested in projects involving coding and robotics, so the fellowship will broaden her knowledge in those areas so that she can pass it on to her students.
“The district is incredibly proud of Dr. Gobler,” Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Probst said. “The combination of academic coursework and research mentorship Dr. Gobler will receive through her participation in the Regeneron STEM Teaching Fellowship will be a tremendous benefit to her present and future students in Westhampton Beach.”
Through the fellowship, Gobler will take a methods in STEM education course and select electives in areas such as coding, robotics and astrobiology. The program culminates with a two-week research internship with Regeneron in the summer of 2023. At its conclusion, she will earn Leadership in STEM certification through Teachers College.
“Dr. Gobler is an outstanding educator and we are fortunate to have her here at Westhampton Beach High School,” Principal Dr. Christopher Herr said. “Being a part of this program will directly impact our students.”
As part of the application process, Gobler submitted academic credentials and personal statements reflecting her knowledge and implementation of science, technology, engineering and math pedagogy, as well as evidence of prior professional development.
Gobler has been teaching biology, science research and AP Research: STEM and biotechnology at Westhampton Beach High School for the past six years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Gettysburg College and her doctorate in molecular biology and biochemistry at Stony Brook University. She worked as a researcher at Stony Brook University for a number of years before transitioning to teaching. In addition to being an educator, she is co-principal investigator for the SPARK Spectroscopy High School Research Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
