At West Springfield High School in Springfield, VA, Ann Wong created a powerhouse of biologists out of the group of high school students she taught. In her last two years as Biology teacher, 100 percent of her students passed the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) for biology with 68 percent passing at the advanced level. Since Wong started teaching the AP biology program, 75 percent of students scored a 3 or higher on the AP biology exam. Wong emphasized technology in her lesson plans and engaged her students in laboratory activities that were interactive and fun.
In addition to teaching several levels of biology, Wong mentored students who found the transition to high school challenging. She was the academic coordinator of the school's AP Program and created an AP summer academy at West Springfield High, which served over 100 students and resulted in a 27 percent increase in student enrollment requests for AP classes during the regular school year. She also sponsored her school's Asian American Student Association.
Since receiving the Milken Educator Award in 2009, Wong transitioned to school-based staff resource positions including School Based Technology Specialist and Instructional Coach. She then held the position of Educational Specialist, Professional Development within the central office before becoming an Assistant Principal at a secondary school (grades 7-12) in the spring of 2015. In the summer of 2019 she was promoted to Associate Principal of that secondary school where she supported building wide operations for the school of 3600 students. In 2023, Wong returned to her science roots by becoming her district's K-12 Science Coordinator supporting curriculum and instruction.
