“I have to make science more than the book,” said Dave Gamon, who teaches life science at Northwood Middle School in Spokane, Wash. And considering his classroom is home to a chinchilla, bearded dragon, frogs, birds and tropical fish, it sounds like he is doing just that. Gamon is one of nine teachers to win the 2009 Regional Teacher of the Year Award.

Gamon is fascinated by science and has fun in the classroom. And apparently lots of it, “I’m like a big kid,” said Gamon, who calls himself an engaging person with an appreciation for the world around him. Gamon said he couldn’t imagine teaching something that he didn’t enjoy.