Huron City Schools

Mr. Blevins earns one of the most prestigious awards in biology education—and almost didn't apply.

Sometimes the best things happen when you push through and try again. That's exactly what happened for Huron High School biology teacher Mr. Blevins, who was recently named the 2025 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) recipient for the entire state of Ohio.

And here's the kicker—he almost didn't reapply.

What is the OBTA?

The Outstanding Biology Teacher Award was created by the National Association of Biology Teachers back in 1962, and it's one of the most prestigious awards a biology teacher can receive. Each year, NABT tries to identify the best biology and life science teacher in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, and overseas territories.

Translation? This is a big deal.

The road to recognition

Mr. Blevins was first nominated by a colleague in a nearby district who happened to be a former OBTA recipient. He applied two years ago but didn't receive the award. Nominees get one more shot to reapply—but after going through the process once, he wasn't sure he wanted to do it again.

"The process was pretty grueling," he said. "It included nearly a 20-page application, recordings of lessons, and other evidence that needed to be submitted."

But after some thought, he decided to go for it one more time. And this time? Ohio's biology teaching peers took notice.

In the notification email, NABT wrote: "Your teaching peers were impressed by your application, and they welcome you to the tradition of excellence that represents the OBTA."

The message was clear: Mr. Blevins is one of the best biology teachers in the country.

What's next?

As part of the award, Mr. Blevins will receive an honor certificate, a complimentary one-year NABT membership, and an OBTA lapel pin (which, let's be honest, he's definitely earned the right to wear proudly).

He's also been invited to the NABT Professional Development Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, this fall, where he'll be honored at a special awards luncheon on Saturday, November 1st, alongside other award recipients from across the country.

"I'm really excited about this!" Mr. Blevins said. "It's a great example of why it's so important not to give up."

Why this matters

Sure, awards are great. But what this really shows is the kind of educators we have at Huron—teachers who push themselves, who don't settle for "good enough," and who are recognized nationally for the work they do every single day in the classroom.

Mr. Blevins didn't just win an award. He proved that persistence pays off, that second chances matter, and that our students are learning from one of the absolute best.

Congratulations, Mr. Blevins. Huron is proud of you—and we can't wait to see you at that luncheon in St. Louis!