Brian Collins began teaching at the age of 31, following a career change from wildlife biology. With a Bachelor of Science in fisheries and wildlife from the University of Minnesota, he pursued his licensure through the Master of Science biology education program at University of Wisconsin, River Falls. He was hired to his first teaching job at Unity High School in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, where he remains today.

Following Unity’s strong leadership, Collins embraced proactive change, committee work and community outreach as necessary components of strong education. He chaired the Unity Professional Staff Development Committee for 19 years and he is a co-founder and has been an active member of the Unity Ojibwe Language Revitalization program for 18 years. The Anishinaabe worldview has transformed Collins’ approach to education, increasing his use of humor and relationship-building in his science classes and leading him to fully embrace the notion that we are all learners and that we are all teachers at all times. Every aspect of the classroom is based on the notion of interdependence.

 Collins started coaching early, promoting diversity and inclusion in sports. In 2019, Collins started the Unity Powerlifting Team. The program continues in strength, with numerous state appearances, including another medalist. Collins teaches advanced placement biology, anatomy, general biology, zoology, ecology and ornithology. His biology lab extends well into Unity’s school forest, where he uses citizen science to include his students in the growing network of scientists focused on saving biodiversity. Collins strives to generate lifelong learners with an appreciation for diversity, strong problem-solving skills and a love of exploration.