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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Southern Oregon runners mourn the loss of their quirky, talented friend ... Ragsdale's body found above Lithia Park ... Low 2015 snowpack contributed to Crater Lake visitor surge ... Southern Oregon runners mourn the loss of their quirky, talented friend ... Ragsdale's body found above Lithia Park ... Low 2015 snowpack contributed to Crater Lake visitor surge ... A Favorite Teacher This North Medford teacher makes science interesting for his students A microscopic photograph of a fly's head in Mark Geisslinger's sixth-grade science class was an image he wouldn't forget. Comment By Paris Achen MailTribune.com By Paris Achen Posted Jun. 11, 2007 at 12:01 AM By Paris Achen Posted Jun. 11, 2007 at 12:01 AM » Social News A microscopic photograph of a fly's head in Mark Geisslinger's sixth-grade science class was an image he wouldn't forget. It sparked his interest in biology, leading him to become a teacher at North Medford High School. He is renowned by his students for making science memorable and driving them to want to know more. His teaching skills recently won him the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award from the Oregon Biology Teachers Association. He will be honored Nov. 29-30 during a convention of the National Association of Biology Teachers. "It's pretty unique for a teacher to be recognized this way," Geisslinger said. "I work with a bunch of people who work hard and don't get recognition, so this is an honor. I know the people I work with deserve this just as much. I'm just lucky." He was nominated by Chuck Smith, of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Partners in Science, who saw Geisslinger teach at a summer biotechnology workshop at Southern Oregon University. Geisslinger won a $2,500 grant from the trust seven years ago. It included doing a research project at the Wildlife Forensics Lab in Ashland. Geisslinger studied the DNA of the black bear population in Virginia. The research later led to forensics-related activities in his classroom and internships for North Medford pupils. Geisslinger has been a teacher for 15 years, 11 of which have been spent at North Medford. Students praise Geisslinger for boiling down complicated material, showing dedication to their learning and having a great sense of humor. "He is one of my favorite teachers because he's so thorough," said Amanda Alexander, who earned credit from Southern Oregon University for taking Geisslinger's anatomy course this year. "If you need him, he's always there to help and always willing to give up his lunch time." Rebecca Treger, a North Medford senior who took Geisslinger's freshman biology and advanced placement biology classes, said he assigned activities that helped solidify concepts in students' minds, she said. In one instance, he asked students to build models of DNA using whatever they found around the house. Treger used Tinker Toy interlocking blocks to build her model. "It really made me remember because not only did we have to build an accurate diagram, but we had to show him how the DNA replicated itself," she said. She is considering studying pre-medicine at Yale University after a year-long exchange program in France. She said her interest in medicine "is definitely because of the way he taught in his classes." Geisslinger's own teachers in middle school, high school and college helped fuel his interest in biology. He adopted his esoteric attitude toward biology from his adviser at Rutgers, where he earned his bachelor's degree in biology. "He had a love for the game," Geisslinger said. Like him, "I love biology for what it is. It doesn't make money; it's just interesting." Reach reporter Paris Achen at 541-776-4459 or [email protected]. By Paris Achen MailTribune.com By Paris Achen Posted Jun. 11, 2007 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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