Lacee Sherman’s Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Journey
For Lacee Sherman, science has always been more than just a subject to teach—it’s a way of thinking, learning, and discovering the world. As a teacher at Infinity Middle School in Aurora, Colorado, Lacee has spent years blending her passion for science with hands-on research experiences, ensuring that her students not only learn about science, but experience it. Through the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program, offered by the Colorado BioScience Institute, Lacee has brought invaluable lessons from the lab at STAQ Pharma straight into her classroom, helping her students see the relevance of science in their everyday lives.
A Scientist in the Classroom
Lacee’s journey into research began during her college years in California, where she participated in a research program for future science teachers. She spent summers studying reproductive proteins in aquatic shrimp and atmospheric gasses at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. These experiences shaped her identity not just as a teacher, but as a scientist-teacher—a hybrid role that allowed her to see and show science from multiple perspectives.
However, when she moved to Colorado, Lacee felt that her students weren’t seeing all sides of her. “My students in California got to see me as a scientist,” she says. “But my students here in Colorado had really only seen me as a teacher. I wanted them to see more than just the average ‘Einstein is a scientist.’ I wanted to give them exposure to different kinds of people and careers in science.”
The Colorado BioScience Institute’s RET program proved to be the perfect fit for Lacee’s goal of bringing real-world science into her classroom.
From Lab Coats to Notebooks: RET in Action
Through the RET program, Lacee spent time working with the microbiology team at STAQ Pharma, diving into the nitty-gritty details of lab life—SOPs, quality control, data verification, and all the unseen but critical work that keeps the world of pharmaceutical development ticking. She took that lab experience back to her classroom in more ways than one.
Lacee introduced scientific notebooks, turning the otherwise standard classroom exercise into a professional experience. “I even make them glue things in, just like I did in the lab,” Lacee says, grinning. She created her own scientific notebook during the program and shared it with her students, showing them that being meticulous is part of being a scientist.
One of her seventh graders reflected on the experience: “At first I didn’t get why we had to write everything down, but then Mrs. Sherman showed us her lab book. It made me feel like I was doing something important.”
And that’s the point. Lacee’s RET experience isn’t just about bringing science to her students; it’s about making them feel like scientists themselves.
Classroom Transformation: SOPs & Student Leadership
The RET program also inspired Lacee to rethink the way she ran her classroom. Standard operating procedures (SOPs), a lifeblood in lab work, transformed her syllabus. Rather than the usual expectations document, Lacee wrote her syllabus like an SOP. The students then turned sections of it into posters, teaching each other about the “procedures” for the classroom.
“This isn’t just about following rules,” Lacee explains. “It’s about getting them to think critically about why structure matters. In science, in the lab—everything has a reason. I want my students to understand that thinking like a scientist means thinking deeply.”
Lifting Girls in STEM: From Teaching to Leading
For Lacee Sherman, the impact of the RET program goes far beyond lab notebooks and SOPs—it’s deeply personal. As the leader of her school’s STEMblazers Club, which encourages girls to explore science and technology, Lacee is committed to showing them what’s possible by connecting them with women who are already making waves in STEM fields.
One of her biggest takeaways from RET? The realization that women are leading groundbreaking research. “Seeing women at the forefront of scientific projects made me realize how crucial it is for my students—especially the girls—to see themselves in these roles,” Lacee shares.
Through STEMblazers, she brings in female leaders from various industries to share their journeys, making careers in science and technology not just imaginable, but within reach.
As one student explains, “I get to discover different career options in STEM, it’s something fun to do after school, and I like meeting new people. Plus, there are snacks!”
Why RET Matters So Much to Lacee
For Lacee Sherman, the RET program isn’t just an educational tool—it’s a way to reshape how her students view science and who can be a scientist. “It’s more than labs and SOPs,” she explains. “It’s about showing them that failure, perseverance, and discovery are all part of the process. And they’re part of it, too.”
Through RET, Lacee has bridged the gap between the lab and the classroom, inspiring her students to see themselves as budding scientists who can make a real impact.