Featured Teacher: Walter Rohr

As we travel around the country, we have the privilege of coming into contact with many excellent educators. Some have won prestigious awards; others have spent their careers largely unsung. The names of some, when mentioned to others, evoke unsolicited testimonials. One such individual, who inspired the idea for this story, is Walter Rohr.

Walter is a “retired” chemistry teacher who now performs occasional Vernier trainings. During his 37 years as a chemistry teacher (over 30 of them at Eastchester High School, in Eastchester, NY), Walter spent nearly as many hours mentoring colleagues as he did in the classroom. He participated for several years in the “New Teachers in Regent’s Chemistry” mentor program, and worked with a group of other teachers in Westchester County to bring the “Chemistry Teachers Alliance” into being in 1989. Still active, this group meets several times a year to promote excellence in chemistry education.

In his “retirement,” Walter continues to work to make things better for science students and teachers. A current project involves using probeware technology to improve the instructional value of demonstrations in the classroom. (Watch for these ideas in future Calipers!)

We at Vernier congratulate Walter on a long and illustrious career, and thank him for the many contributions he has made to science teaching.