Ecology Ph.D. Alumna Named FLDOE Teacher of the Year Finalist

Nicole Mosblech ’12 Ph.D. was selected as a Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Teacher of the Year finalist for her role as an Advanced Placement and honors environmental science and honors chemistry teacher at Vero Beach High School.

“Dr. Nicole Mosblech has dedicated her career to ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education and develop an appreciation for the planet on which we live and rely,” FLDOE Commissioner Richard Corcoran says. “Dr. Mosblech not only grew the school’s Advanced Placement program, her students’ pass rate exceeded the national rate by 13.5 percentage points last year. Her classroom accomplishments combined with her civic involvement make Dr. Mosblech a terrific Teacher of the Year finalist.”

Nicole began her career in education teaching English in South Korea. In 2005, she moved back to the United States and began teaching science at the Vero Beach High School Freshman Learning Center before pursuing a doctorate in ecology at Florida Tech. Upon earning her Ph.D., she returned to Vero Beach High School, where she has been teaching ever since.

“Being chosen as one of the finalists for Florida Teacher of the Year is such a great honor. I absolutely didn’t expect this, as there are so many amazing teachers this year that have been chosen to represent their counties,” Nicole says. “I’m so incredibly proud to represent Vero Beach High School and Indian River County teachers, a community of professionals who all deserve to be celebrated for ways in which we allow our students to learn and grow each day.”

Dr. Mosblech was named District Teacher of the Year in January. She then submitted a state packet, including a video recording of her 30-minute AP environmental science lesson, a case study in which students used scientific research and published data to analyze the effectiveness of culling wolves to save endangered caribou as a conservation strategy.

“Dr. Mosblech is a noble educator who makes brilliant connections with her AP environmental science students, as she imparts rigorous content and inspires responsible stewardship of the earth in her students,” says Shawn O’Keefe, principal at Vero Beach High School. “There is no doubt that she makes a lasting impact upon the lives of her students each school year.”

Mosblech is humbled by the recognition.

“It’s a lot to be recognized for something that you would come in and do on a regular basis.”