Dressed in a lab coat and looking like a forensic expert at a crime scene, Lance Brand guides his students in hands-on science exploration and experimentation. To show how to extract DNA samples from cells, he took his class to Ball State University so they could do their own DNA fingerprinting. In the two years that he's been at Delta High, Mr. Brand has redesigned both levels of biology and is creating a curriculum for dual-credit classes in anatomy and physiology. Students flock to his classes because they know they'll be challenged. Last year his students placed third in a national chemistry competition. This year they earned first prize. Encouraging his students to make personal discoveries through hands-on experiences, he infuses his lessons with excitement and humor. His objective as an educator is to provide students with the necessary encouragement and leadership to develop lifelong learning habits, positive self-esteem and the ability to think critically. When the 20 students with the highest academic records had an opportunity to name the teacher who has made the greatest difference to them, five of the 20 chose Lance Brand.
