User:Larryrplank

Larry R. Plank, M.S., is the instructional leader of 8 teachers in the science department at Robinson High School, in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Plank earned a Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences from Florida State University in 1997, and a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of South Florida in 2000. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of South Florida in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on new teacher induction and mentoring. In addition to these academic accomplishments, Mr. Plank has also been recognized as an Endeavor Academy Technology Leader in Science (2003), Accomplished Teaching Academy graduate (2003), and Project CRISS Training graduate (2001).

Mr. Plank currently serves as a co-chairman of the school’s steering committee, of which he has been a member since 2001. He is also a member of the school’s literacy committee and served as the Deputy Chairperson for the school’s 2004 S.A.C.S. evaluation. In addition to these professional duties, Mr. Plank serves as a site-based liaison for the Greater Access Program supported by the Hillsborough Advanced Placement Incentive (HAPI) grant and as the school-based mentor in the Teachers and teaching Initiative (TTI) sponsored by the Council for Educational Change and funded by the Wachovia Foundation. Two of his most important roles, however, are that of National Honor Society sponsor and coach of the R.H.S. Science Team, which finished third of 23 schools in the district’s competition in the 2001 Science Bowl.

Mr. Plank was elected by his peers as Robinson’s Teacher of the Year in 2005 and B.E.S.T. mentor Teacher in 2004. Also in 2004, Mr. Plank was recognized as the Sigma Xi Science Teacher of the year for Hillsborough County. His six-year teaching experience includes Advanced Placement Biology, Honors and Gifted Biology, Biology, Honors and Gifted Chemistry, Honors and Gifted Integrated Science and Integrated Science. He is certificated in Biology, 6-12.