ETSU science education professor Dr. Laura Robertson earned the university’s 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching for her superior teaching, impact on students, and leadership in innovative teaching practices and community-engaged learning.  

Dr. Laura Robertson, a professor of science education in East Tennessee State University’s Clemmer College of Education and Human Development, received the university’s 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching.

The Distinguished Faculty Awards are the highest honors given to ETSU faculty in the areas of teaching, research and service.

Robertson was praised in her nomination for her consistently superior teaching, her profound impact on students as a mentor and educator, and her leadership in innovative teaching practices and community-engaged learning (CEL).

Robertson’s students describe her courses as “highly engaging, meaningful and transformative, noting both her enthusiasm and her ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible and relevant.” She incorporates hands-on activity and emerging technologies, such as AI, into her courses, as well as approaches that engage students in designing, implementing and reflecting on STEM instruction, including coding-based activities and interdisciplinary projects.

Among her CEL endeavors are partnerships with Hands On! Discovery Center and regional elementary schools that provide preservice teachers with real-world teaching experiences.

“Working with Hands On! means that our students design and build educational materials that Hands On! can share with other teachers in the area,” she said. “It makes their assignments meaningful, and I really value this because it brings them into the profession.”

Robertson is quick to recognize all the educators who impacted her life and career – from those who taught her middle school and high school science classes when she was a student at University School to those who supported and mentored her through her early years of teaching at University School and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

And she works to refine her approaches to teaching “through ongoing reflection and student feedback, demonstrating a commitment to continuous instructional improvement and innovation.” She works closely with ETSU’s Center for Teaching Excellence, which she praises as a great resource.

Robertson’s students inspire her, and one of her favorite things is learning that a student who previously disliked the STEM fields discovered a love of science and developed enthusiasm and confidence in teaching it.

“I work with really amazing students,” Robertson said. “People who want to be elementary educators tend to be exceptionally kind and dedicated. They want to make a difference in their students' lives and are willing to work hard to become the best teachers they can be. Plus, they aren’t afraid to have fun learning!”

Robertson joined the faculty of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in 2014 after teaching science and math at ETSU’s University School. She holds a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in elementary education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Ph.D. in science education from North Carolina State University.

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