Becky Buckingham '80 says her students can’t see her ever retiring because she loves what she does too much. Buckingham was one of four teachers in St. Lawrence County to achieve certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2009. A biology teacher at Lisbon (NY) Central School and, since 1991, an adjunct instructor in St. Lawrence's education department, Buckingham earned national certification in secondary biology in December.

Buckingham has taught Biology/Living Environment for 30 years, earning master’s degrees in teaching and in education administration from SLU.   Also certified to teach AP Biology, she received an award for excellence in sponsoring student teachers and was the first recipient of an award given by the Lions Club for her activity in her community. “But these do not compare with the feeling I get when a student takes the time to say thanks,” she points out.

At SLU, Buckingham teaches Science Methods and team teaches two graduate education classes.  “A lot of SLU students who are going into education come to my classroom and observe,” she says.  “The education department knows I love to show interested students what I do.”   

A biology major, Buckingham says she has many favorite memories from SLU: the daily chapel chime, “the professors who were always so approachable and helpful,” hockey games (she was on the club team that later evolved into St. Lawrence’s NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey team), and friendships on campus, especially in Alpha Delta Pi sorority.  “I also was a ‘big sister’ for a local school student.  Once a week I would plan something with her,” she says, noting that these experiences helped prepare her for her career.

“I am always proud when my students go on to SLU,” she says. “But one of my proudest moments was when my son Lucas received his diploma in 2004.”