Dr. Andi Acre, Ed.D., brings a spark of discovery to every classroom she enters at Enid High School. Now in her seventh year there, and her twenty-fourth year overall, she serves as the science department head, teaching Pre-AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics 1 to sophomores through seniors. Her lessons aren’t just about formulas or theories; they’re about letting students see science unfold before their eyes.
“It always makes my day when a struggling student begins to understand a difficult concept,” Dr. Acre said. “I love teaching science through inquiry and having students experience science firsthand in the lab.”
That enthusiasm was born from a lifelong fascination with the natural world. Raised as the oldest of four on a wheat and beef farm near Canton, Oklahoma, she grew up helping wherever she could, long before she was tall enough to see over the tractor wheel. Family remains central to her life, from her three nieces, Lizzie, Adelyn, and Suzanna, and her nephew Ladd, to her loyal border collie, Ranger.
Though she once dreamed of becoming a large animal veterinarian, a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome while studying Biology/Pre-Vet at Northwestern Oklahoma State altered her path. Instead of giving up her love of science, she redirected it toward education, earning her teaching certification and building a new dream from the same foundation.
“After graduation, I decided to certify in secondary science education to help kids reach their dreams,” she shared.
Dr. Acre credits several mentors for shaping her own teaching philosophy: Mrs. Anita Kliewer, her second-grade teacher; Mr. Dwayne Sinclair, her high school math and physics teacher; and Dr. Cindy Pfieffer-Hill, her college biology professor.
“Mr. Sinclair once told me that you have to begin the year very strictly,” she recalled. “You can loosen up once the kids learn the expectations, but you can’t regain control if you never had it.”
Outside the classroom, Dr. Acre finds balance by playing catch with Ranger, building intricate science-themed LEGO sets, helping on the family farm, and working for ADM during school breaks. Whether on the farm or in the lab, her energy, curiosity, and compassion for others continue to inspire the next generation of scientists.
