Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators

Daniel L. DeWolf (1997)

Daniel DeWolf grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, where he developed the deep interest in Natural History that has been his hallmark throughout his career. This interest became a passion after spending his 9th grade year of high school in Zimbabwe (Formerly Southern Rhodesia) roaming with the Africans, collecting natural history specimens for the Boston Museum of Science and spending a memorable two days with the highly inspirational Louis Leakey.

Mr. DeWolf graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Boston University in 1964. His teaching career began that same year, when he became a 5th Grade teacher at the Cabot School in Newton. In the years that followed, he taught K-5 Science at the Cabot School and became a Science Consultant for the Newton Science Center. In 1978, he accepted his present job as Assistant Director for the Needham Science Center, a nationally recognized department of the Needham Public School System. He is directly responsible for the support of Natural Science, Earth Science, and Environmental Science in the Science Center’s 95 elementary classrooms.

Daniel has served on many boards and committees, including the Holliston Conservation Commission, the Holliston Town Forest Committee, Trailside Museum and Drumlin Farm Sanctuary Committees, The Massachusetts Advisory Board of PROJECT WILD, and the Education Board of the Boston Edison Company.

Mr. DeWolf's leisure time activities include natural history, wilderness canoeing, blacksmithing, and woodcarving.

Special Honors:

• Inducted into the Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators, 1997
• Goldin Award for Excellence in Education, 1994
• Project Wild Award, 1991
• Featured in Directions, published by the National Science Foundation, 1989
• Class Act Award, Channel 5, Boston, Massachusetts, 1989
• Superintendent’s Award, Needham Public Schools, 1988
• Featured in National Science Week, published by the National Science Foundation, 1988
• Featured in The American Scene, TIME Magazine, 1988
• Excellence in Science Award, 1984, presented by the National Science Teachers Association

Last Modified: October 7, 2004