We are thrilled to announce the 18 recipients of 2025-2026 BioLEAP Classroom Grants! This year’s cohort represents our most diverse group of educators yet, spanning from elementary classrooms to university settings across the country.
What makes this year’s grant recipients particularly exciting is the emergence of several powerful themes that demonstrate how NAVS’ investment in humane science education is creating ripple effects throughout the educational ecosystem.
Transforming Higher Education
For the first time, we’re seeing significant momentum at the university level, where professors are challenging long-established dissection practices. Dr. Diana Avans at Vanguard University and Professor Tyler Hall at Denison University are pioneering humane alternatives in their anatomy courses, demonstrating that animal-free teaching methods not only align with ethical values but also enhance learning outcomes.
Professor Hall’s approach is particularly noteworthy: “To me, exploring ethics is a core component of a liberal arts education, and proper behavior toward animals is a central tenet of ethics.” By integrating human-centered digital tools, these educators are preparing future healthcare professionals with both scientific knowledge and ethical awareness.
Supporting Diverse Learners
This year’s applications revealed another important trend: the vital role of humane science education in creating inclusive learning environments. Elisabeth Peterson from Temple Grandin School in Boulder, Colorado highlighted how traditional dissection poses barriers for neurodivergent students, particularly those with sensory sensitivities.
By providing humane replacements, we’re helping ensure that all students—regardless of learning differences—can fully participate in science education without compromising their values or well-being.
Values-Driven Teaching
Many of our grant recipients bring their personal ethics into their professional practice. Educators like Levi Morgan and Melissa Ramirez are showing students that scientific inquiry can align with compassionate values.
As Levi notes, “I am someone who hates animal harm to the point where I won’t eat meat. I want to reduce and prevent as much harm to actual animals as possible.” These teachers are modeling for their students how personal ethics can inform professional choices—a powerful lesson that extends far beyond the science classroom.
Building on Success
We’re especially pleased to see previous grant recipients returning to expand their humane science programs. Melissa Ramirez, who previously received synthetic frogs to replace squid dissections, now seeks to expand the program based on positive student feedback: “While I highly value education and seek to give my students the most valuable learning experiences possible, I feel that using real once-living animals also teaches a side lesson of not respecting other living things.”
Our 2025-2026 BioLEAP Grant Recipients
| Applicant Name | School | Location |
| Levi Morgan | Chapel Hill 7th and 8th Grade Center | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Elisabeth Peterson | Temple Grandin School | Boulder, Colorado |
| Amy Lacks | De La Salle North Catholic High School | Portland, Oregon |
| Barabara Glover | Carver Edisto Middle School | Cope, South Carolina |
| Diana Avans | Vanguard University | Costa Mesa, California |
| Kaylee Jones | Caddo Virtual Academy | Shreveport, Louisiana |
| David Goodman | Union High School | Big Stone Gap, Virginia |
| Brian Tennal | Clinton High School | Clinton, Missouri |
| Mary Teresa Tyndall | Blackstone Valley Tech | Upton, Massachusetts |
| Jennifer Veatch | Crawfordsville High School | Crawfordsville, Indiana |
| Leigh Woltjen | Vero Beach High School | Vero Beach, Florida |
| Justin Tech | Fort LeBoeuf High School | Waterford, Pennsylvania |
| Melissa Ramirez | Douglas Taylor Elementary | Chicago, Illinois |
| Tyler Hall | Denison University | Granville, Ohio |
| Rebecca Roach | Elk Valley | Longton, Kansas |
| Michelle Camire | East Boston High | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nicole Lindsay | Josiah Quincy Upper School | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nafeesah Scott | Science Park High School | Newark, New Jersey |
The BioLEAP program represents NAVS’ commitment to creating lasting change in how science is taught and practiced. By investing in these innovative educators, we’re:
- Shaping the scientific mindset of the next generation
- Creating pathways for ethical scientific inquiry that will influence research practices
- Building momentum for the broader cultural shift away from animal use in science
- Supporting the development and adoption of human-relevant approaches in education
As we witness unprecedented shifts at the federal level toward reducing animal testing, our investment in humane science education becomes even more strategic. The students in these BioLEAP-supported classrooms today will become the scientists, healthcare providers, and policymakers leading animal-free approaches tomorrow.
We’re proud to support these 18 visionary educators who are teaching science differently and defining what ethical scientific education looks like for future generations.
