The bell rings, and Ankeny High School’s (AHS) Anatomy and AP Biology teacher, Lori Bing, greets students with a personal, enlightening smile, asking about homework and even the family dog. This connection with her students made Bing the teacher of the year.

“I truly appreciate being recognized, but really, I wish everybody on the team could be recognized,” said Bing. 

Bing not only cares about her students, but also everyone around her. Her dedication goes beyond the classroom, redirecting the spotlight onto her colleagues.

“I have lots of different memories, but the ones that come to mind are when I’ve helped some students realize that they can do something that maybe they didn’t have confidence in themselves,” said Bing. 

Her commitments to her students are clear in the moments that stick with her the most, small victories that leave a long-lasting impact. 

“She has a lot of wisdom and knowledge, and she really cares about her students and helping us not just memorize the content, but actually understand it,” junior Alia Zimmerman said. 

Bing’s influence doesn’t go unnoticed; her students feel the impact of her guidance and wisdom every day, constantly putting in effort to teach them and make them feel seen. 

“She’s a teacher who notices you’re having a bad day even if you don’t say anything,” said junior Clara Lara. “She cares for more than just our grades; she also cares about us as people, and it’s all in the way she talks to us and treats us. She’s so kind and amazing.”

The care Bing shows her students is most evident when students are struggling, turning stress-inducing moments into opportunities for growth. She creates an environment where students feel brave enough to ask “dumb” questions that lead to real understanding.

“She never gave up on me, even when I had a D in her class,” junior Seth Van Den Baard said.

Mrs. Bing’s forgiving personality and passion for teaching help her students navigate a difficult subject. For some students, her classroom is a place where the pressure to be perfect lifts. She treats the wrong answer not as a dead end but as a starting point for further growth.

“She had the patience, the kindness, the understanding, the content knowledge, and the high expectations. Pull all those together, that’s hard to do,” said Cowger. “If you have a question, if you’re not sure how to handle something, she will listen, and she will help walk you through it, and to me that’s huge, she’s like that with students, but also the same way with colleagues.

Bing has an incredible passion for teaching students and helping them understand the subject at hand. Bing’s personality also contributes a great deal to not only her students but also her colleagues. The combination of professional excellence and personal kindness is what makes her connected to the students of the Ankeny community.

“She’s a treasure,” said Zimmerman. 

As the school year goes on and the next handful of students pass through her doors, Bing will continue to leave a lasting impression on AHS students and remain an important treasure of the community.

“For all my students, don’t ever let somebody tell you [that] you can’t accomplish your dreams, ‘cause you can,” says Bing.