Physics Teacher Sue Nelson Nominated for Golden Apple Award

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Abby Wittler, Staff Writer, Advanced Journalism

One of NDA’s veteran science teachers, Mrs. Susan Nelson, has been nominated for this year’s Golden Apple Award.

Although she has been nominated multiple times for the award, the science teacher doesn’t relish the spotlight.  “I am more of a person who likes to stay in the background,” she said.

On the other hand, her colleagues and her students don’t hesitate in their regard for her teaching and lifestyle.

She is one of the kindest, most generous people I know. She inspires me with her sense of self; she is unassuming, never seeks the spotlight, and is as genuine as any person I‘ve ever known. I’ve never heard a single student or staff member say anything negative about her,” said Carolyn Brown, NDA English teacher.

Senior Samantha LeFever also praised the Golden Apple nominee, saying, “Mrs. Nelson an amazing teacher and definitely deserves this honor. I genuinely enjoy everything I learn in physics. She also will go out of her way to help every student in her class do the best that they can. She truly cares about our success.”

Nelson attended high school at Preble and college at the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay. She graduated with a degree in science and initially worked for Procter and Gamble as a lab technician in the chemical engineering department for the product “Bounce.”  

There she did a considerable amount of training/teaching to others that influenced her decision to go into teaching. She eventually went back to school to take education courses in order to obtain a teaching degree.  Twenty years later, while teaching, she earned a Masters in Education.

Nelson has been teaching for a total of 41 years and has taught many types of sciences, including biology, chemistry, ecology, earth science, physical science and her personal favorite, physics.

In recent history, she has mainly been teaching Physics, Honors Physics and IB Physics.

Throughout her years of teaching, she has discovered that she loves working with teenagers.

“I really like to be able to help students understand physics,” she said, and maintains that is what keeps her in the classroom.

Nelson also enjoys teaching problem-solving skills and takes time outside of class to do so with any student that needs her help.