Environmental
science, physics,
and chemistry teacher

Switzerland County
School Corporation
Rising Sun, IN

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES AND AWARDS: Began teaching in 1970 at Residence Park School, Dayton, Ohio, and taught as naturalist in 1973-74 at LaBoiteaux Woods Outdoor Education Center in Cincinnati. Worked in environmental impact assessment and drinking water research from 1976-1979, before beginning at Switzerland County High School in 1980. Teaches summer College Board Institutes at Illinois Wesleyan University and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Named Indiana Middle School Teacher of the Year, 1989; the Southwestern Ohio Association's Technology Teacher of the Year,1998. Finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year, 1987. Served on the Indiana Environmental Science Core 40 Competencies Writing Committee and as a national trainer for Advanced Placement Environmental Science. Awarded a Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship, 1989, to join an Earthwatch Expedition in Shetland Islands of Scotland. She and her husband, Bill, have one son, Matthew.

EXCERPTS from comments by colleagues: From River Watch to Weather Watch, Mrs. Fancher is a Scientist who "left her fieldwork to pick up a piece of chalk." "A teacher who makes the eyes of a young student glow, she brings electricity and excitement to the classroom. Because of her efforts, Vevay weather and Ohio River data are online. Mrs. Fancher doesn't just lead the science department, she inspires us all. She has unique ways of instilling confidence in students, helping them see their strong points and bringing out their best." Her students include two with perfect scores on the national Advanced Placement Environmental Science Exam, and two first place state academic science team wins. She and her students monitor the Switzerland County watershed and Ohio River water quality. Her students integrated technology with watershed study in a watershed website.