Rachel Benzoni is a former secondary science educator with eight years of experience teaching chemistry, AP chemistry, environmental science, and science foundations for multilingual learners (MLLs). In addition to her teaching duties, she was a member of her school district’s curriculum writing team; most notably, she spearheaded the development of district course standards and curriculum designed to support science learning for newcomer and intermediate MLLs. She was the first teacher in the Omaha Public Schools district to engage in and fully integrate transdisciplinary place-based service learning into their curriculum and pedagogy. Her students were involved in service-oriented projects supported by their own results-driven research, learning how to advocate for social justice and civic engagement and taking on leadership roles in the classroom and community.

As a 2020 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Rachel brought her real-world experience as an educator to the office of the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, acting as a voice for teachers and students trying to adapt to unexpected and unprecedented conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. She worked on federal education policy, STEM initiatives, and teacher workforce issues within the Congressman’s legislative portfolio. This policy experience deepened her understanding of the systems that shape science education and strengthened her dedication to elevating teacher voice in decision-making spaces. She took on an active role in developing and promoting legislation to address constituents' concerns related to the pandemic, most notably addressing issues regarding student loan forgiveness and the safe reopening of schools. Additionally, she developed and promoted legislation to support English learners and their families and expand federal investment in teacher p! reparatio n. 

Rachel's classroom and legislative experience informs her doctoral research, which explores the real-world challenges and possibilities of teaching science today. She is especially interested in how teachers build community and lead from the ground up. Her dissertation examines how science teachers use social media to take on leadership roles outside of traditional school settings by sharing their expertise, building professional communities online, and influencing public discourse around science education. She intends for her work to shed light on how digital platforms are reshaping conceptions of teacher leadership beyond traditional institutional roles. Beyond her doctoral research, Rachel has contributed to multiple grant-funded projects supporting in-service science teachers’ leadership development and curriculum design.

Research Interests 

Science Teacher Leadership 
Education Policy 
Social Media Advocacy

Publications & Conference Presentations 

Benzoni, R. and Lewis, E.B. (2025). Effect of teacher preparation program on secondary science teachers’ use of academic language strategies. (Manuscript in review).

Benzoni, R. (Work-in-Progress Roundtable). Leader Identity Construction of Science Teachers who use Social Media to Advocate for Science Education. 2025 National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) Annual International Conference: March 23-26, 2025, National Harbor, MD.

Lewis, E.B., Hasseler, E., Benzoni, R., Matkin, G., Smith, W., Claes, D., Harwood, D., McElravy, L.J., and Jaramillo, D. (Related Paper Set). Initial Results from an Iterative Program Design for Educating Science Education Leaders. 2025 NARST Annual International Conference: March 23-26, 2025, National Harbor, MD.
o Paper #1: Designing a Program for Science Education Teacher-Leaders, Lewis, E.B., Smith, W., Claes, D., Harwood, D., Jarmillo, D., Matkin, G. and McElravy, L.J. 
o Paper #2: Changes in MTFs’ Understanding about Science Education Leadership, Benzoni, R., Matkin, G., Smith, W., Hasseler, E., and McElravy, L.J.
o Paper #3: MTFs’ Discipline-specific Science Subject Matter Knowledge and Pursuing National Board Certification, Hasseler, E., Benzoni, R., Claes, D., Harwood, D., and Lewis, E.B.
o Paper #4: The Thread of Equity Throughout a Noyce MTF Program, Matkin, G., Lewis, E.B., Benzoni, R., and Hasseler, E.

Klein, A.A., Miller, N., Benzoni, R., Lewis, E.B., and Matkin, G. (Poster). Perspective of Science Master Teacher-Leaders Learning and Leading Equitable Teaching Practices. 2024 NSF Robert Noyce Program Annual Conference: July 15-17, 2024, Washington, D.C.

Benzoni, R. and Lewis, E.B. (Poster). Effect of Teacher Preparation Program on Science Teachers’ Use of Academic Language Development Strategies. 2024 NARST Annual International Conference: March 17- 20, 2024, Denver, CO.

Lewis, E.B., Hasseler, E., Benzoni, R., and Matkin, G. (Presentation). Initial Growth of Inclusive Knowledge and Leadership Practices by Science Education Teacher-Leaders. 2024 NARST Annual International Conference: March 17- 20, 2024, Denver, CO.

Lewis, E., Hasseler, E., Benzoni, R., Matkin, G., Smith, W., Claes, D., Harwood, D., and Helding, B. (Poster). Meeting the Needs of Diverse Students through Science Teacher Leadership in Nebraska. 2023 NSF Robert Noyce Program Annual Conference: June 26-28, 2023, Washington, DC.

Benzoni, R. (Presentation). Reimagining curriculum as transdisciplinary, experienced-based learning. ASCD National Convention: October 20-23, 2022, National Harbor, MD.

Benzoni, R., Jefferson, C., and Lockett, D. (n.d.) STEM 101: Federal tools for moving STEM forward [Conference presentation].