October 15, 2025
By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Rutherford County Schools
Danielle Burt, a chemistry teacher at Siegel High School, was recently honored by the American Chemical Society with the Nashville chapter’s Ruth Page Woodall Award for Excellence in High School Teaching.
Now in her 12th year as an educator, Burt has spent the past five years at Siegel. In an email announcing the award, Nashville ACS Awards Chairman Dr. Robert C. Wingfield Jr. praised Burt’s “consistently demonstrated exceptional teaching abilities” and her dedication to students.
“Your passion, dedication and innovative approach make you a very deserving recipient of this award,” Wingfield wrote.
Burt expressed a deep love for both chemistry and the learning process, especially watching her students overcome challenges.
“Chemistry is different than sciences they have taken up to that point and lends itself greatly towards being hands-on. It isn't easy, and I don't make it so, but provide students with tools to persevere and see their grade as a true win rather than just another mark on a paper,” she said.
Burt teaches multiple levels of chemistry, including Advanced Placement, Advanced Honors, Honors, and ESL. She credits her own teachers for encouraging her despite a challenging home life.
“Each student is worthy of having a dream fostered and their individual self – whomever that self may be – seen and upheld as worthy. Teachers in my life did this for me and gave me hope and purpose when I thought there was none. It is my goal to do the same for those who enter my classroom,” Burt wrote as part of the award process.
As a recipient of this award, Burt is now eligible for the Southeast Regional Award sponsored by the ACS Division of Chemical Education, with the winner to be announced later this month.