Christine Girtain teaches a three-year authentic science research course to 10th- through 12^th– graders at Toms River High School North and Toms River High School South in Toms River, N.J. Girtain has a Bachelor of Science in biology with a concentration in education from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Arts in earth science instruction and curriculum from Kean University. Girtain student taught in Lancaster, England, and has been teaching science for 28 years.

Girtain has been recognized twice as her school’s Teacher of the Year. She is the 2022 National Association of Biology Teachers Genetics Educator of the Year, 2022-2023 Ocean County Teacher of the Year, 2021 Army Education Outreach Educator of the Year, New Jersey STEM Pathways 2019 STEM Teacher of the Year and a 2021 New Jersey state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching awaiting final selection by the White House.

Partnering with Penn State, the Army and Navy, Girtain is building an equitable K-12 STEM pipeline to help students find their science, technology, engineering and mathematics identities and create a sustainable workforce. She has taken students to do research in Costa Rica with Seeds of Change and on educational tours in Europe. Girtain is a national presenter and advocate for increasing agricultural literacy, working with Nourish the Future, the National Corn Growers Association, the United Soybean Board, the Beef Checkoff and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. She wants her students to find a passion for whatever career they choose.