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2004 Outstanding Earth-Science Teacher Awards

Posted on: Thursday, 24 February 2005, 03:00 CST

Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) awards are given for "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the pre-college level." Any teacher or other K-12 educator who covers a significant amount of earth science content with their students is eligible. Ten national finalists are selected, one from each NAGT regional section. Some sections also recognize state winners. Individuals may submit an application themselves or nominate a colleague for the award.

Nominations may be submitted at any time during the year, however most sections need this information by March in order to consider the applicant for the current calendar year. The official nomination form and supporting materials should be sent to the sectional OEST chair or to the NAGT Executive Director (see NAGT web site http:// www.nagt.org for contact information).

The National Association of Geoscience Teachers gives each section OEST awardee a plaque and a two-year membership in the Association, which includes a subscription to the Journal of Geoscience Education. Other NAGT awards vary from section to section and among states within sections.

In addition, the Geological Society of America provides a monetary award and a 3-year Teachers Associate Membership, and the National Earth Science Teachers Association provides a one-year membership, which includes a subscription to the Earth Scientist. The following organizations provide tangible support of various kinds such as teaching materials or gifts: American Geological Institute, American Geophysical Union, American Institute of Professional Geologists, National Earth Science Teachers Association, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

SECTION WINNERS

Central Section

Matt Leone of Libertyville High School, Libertyville, Illinois is the 2004 winner of the OEST Award for the Central Section.

Eastern Section

This year's Eastern Section winner, Mary Sue Burns, was nominated by Tom Repine of the WV Geologic Survey. Mary Sue has 24 years experience in the classroom and currently teaches at Pocahontas County High School in Marlinton, WV. She holds a BA degree in Biology from Oberlin College and an MA in Secondary Science Education from West Virginia University. She has been active with the WV Geologic Survey's RockCamp program attending all 5 levels, as well as Falls and Fossils. She has been invited back as a field assistant for RockCamp I and recently participated in a capstone experience where she became a field geologist mapping portions of WV. She has presented at both the regional and national levels of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), chaired the West Virginia Science Teachers Association Conference, and was part of the leadership team for a 5 million dollar NSF grant for Coordinated and Thematic Science in WV. She recently published an article in The Science Teacher entitled "Chemistry Rocks: Redox Chemistry as a Geologic Tool", and "How Much Lime is in Limestone" and "Parking Lot Gravel" in Adaptive Earth Science Activities a WVGES in the education publication series. In 1997 she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, in 2000 the IC White Memorial Earth Science Educator Award from the WV Geologic and Economic Survey and in 2003 the West Virginia Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award. Her nominator writes "The reason I feel she is most qualified for Section recognition is her ability to transform geoscience learning experiences into classroom experiences for both her chemistry and general science students. She has had to become a master of content integration in a school lacking a formal geology course. Because of her work several students are now pursuing collegiate studies in geology."

Far West Section

The recipient of the 2004 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award from the Far Western Section is Noah Hughes, a physical science teacher at Sonora High School in the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California. Noah's students benefit from a variety of pedagogical techniques including cooperative learning, project- based learning, multimedia, and off-campus field trips. He regularly groups students into "research teams" so that they can work cooperatively and solve scientific problems in class. By using these strategies, Noah successfully accommodates students with varying abilities and learning styles in his classes. One colleague commented: "Noah is always trying to build a better pedagogical mousetrap."

Noah Hughes

Noah has developed two innovative, small-group research projects. In one case, students analyze the water chemistry of the creek that flows through campus. Collaborating with students in a biology class, Noah's students also collect information on aquatic life in the creek. In the second project, students research an energy resource, its advantages and disadvantages. In both cases students must present their results and conclusions using Power Point technology. These projects allow students to develop their information retrieval, data collection, and observational abilities as well as developing interpersonal, communication and critical thinking skills.

Noah also works with special needs students at Sonora High School. His willingness to believe in these disadvantaged and troubled youth and to spend time with them outside the classroom, has had a significant impact on many of their lives. By going the extra mile Noah has made the community a better place.

A member of the Geological Society of America, Noah earned his B.S. at the University of Colorado, Boulder and his M.S. in geology at the University of Montana. An avid kayaker, when he is not interacting with students, Noah can often be found studying Sierra Nevada geology while kayaking down the Tuolumne or Stanislaus Rivers.

Midcontinent Section

No winner in 2004.

New England Section

Bruce Mellin is The New England Section's Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award winner for 2005. Bruce is the earth science instructor at the Brooks School, North Andover, MA, where he teaches Earth Science classes for grades 10 - 12. He has extensive experience with designing and writing hands-on activities for his students as well as being a publisher's consultant. In one lab on weather forecasting, students use his self-published guide of cloud images to analyze cloud patterns and make predictions. In his astronomy course, students acquire images from the MicroObservatory Telescope Network based at the Harvard College Observatory for analysis in activities he has written. Integrating a seismograph into the geology curriculum is one of Bruce's current projects.

Bruce's hands-on approach attracts a wide range of students. "Because students are often working independently on activities, I am able to circulate around the classroom and provide each student with individual attention. Given the wide spectrum of ability in any one particular class, student problems can be minimized by this approach," states Mellin.

Bruce's nominator, Tom Vaughn, President of the Massachusetts Association of Science Supervisors, notes that Bruce's professionalism, dedication to helping students achieve high science standards, his ability to motivate and encourage students to produce outstanding original projects, and his numerous presentations and workshops for teachers demonstrate Bruce's outstanding contributions to earth science education. It is with great pleasure that the New England Section selects Bruce Mellin as our 2005 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher

Bruce Mellin

North Central Section

No winner in 2004.

Pacific Northwest Section

The Pacific Northwest section OEST award this year goes to Pat Ellis of Richland, Washington. Pat has taught elementary school for 29 years and has made a lasting impact on many of her students. In fact, she was nominated by a local geologist that works with the second grade class who additionally has had two of her children taught by Mrs. Ellis. Pat is described as a passionate educator, life-long learner who continually strives to find new and exciting methods for getting students excited and involved in the learning process. Pat has training in brain research, learning styles math for young children and balanced literacy. She has successfully integrated strategies and techniques from these areas into her classroom, as well as providing workshops for her colleagues. She has the patience and determination to make sure that students of all levels will be successful learners, accomplishing this through utilizing a variety of learning styles and continually enhancing the curriculum. Pat represents all the things we should emulate as educators: passion, humor, life-long learning, generosity and most importantly always putting the needs and best interests of the students first. Pat puts the elementary students in her classes onto a solid learning foundation that will benefit them well into the future.

Pat Ellis

Southeast Section

The Southeastern Section OEST winner for 2004 is Ms. Tina King, who teaches at West Elementary School in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, concentrating mainly on K-6 levels. Using geology as the primary focus and vehicle to teach her students began in 1997 on a 55-day trip to the West to hunt for \fossils and minerals. This trip, along her participation in the Tennessee Earth Science Teachers Association, the Tennessee Educators of Aquatic Marine Sciences, and several Tennessee rock clubs spurred a passion for geology as a way to learn and teach. Since this time Ms. King has traveled to Belize, Central America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and nearly every state in the US, including several trips to Montana to work on dinosaur digs and to Alaska collecting specimens, developing activities, giving and taking courses and expanding her knowledge of Earth Science. In 2001, Ms. King spent two months in a field camp on the continental coastline of Antarctica near the Ross Ice Shelf studying foraminifera, which she later turned into several programs for Tennessee teachers relating modern and ancient organisms. She graduated with a BS degree in education (K-9) from Belmont University in 1977. She received a Masters in Educational Leadership in 1999 from Trevecca Nazarene University. Ms. King has received nearly 20 teaching awards, which include the prestigious Presidential Award of Excellence for Mathematics and Science Teaching in 1999, 2000 Tennessee Science Teachers Association winner for teaching in the Elementary Division. She is the current President of the Tennessee Earth Science Teachers (TEST). Her goals for the next few years are to connect science by incorporating current science research in the Polar Regions to life in other regions primarily through using fossil and modern foraminifer to show the connection between the ancient and modern environments, as well as the Earth as a system.

Tina King

Southwest Section

The 2004 OEST winner for the Southwest Section is Tony Occhiuzzi from Tempe Arizona. Tony has been teaching Earth Science and Chemistry for 31 years. Over the years, Tony has seen the number of students grow and the funding for materials shrink. He teaches both the introductory Earth Science class as well as a dual-enrollment college-level geology lab for his more advanced students.

Tony embraces the philosophy of making science fun, exciting, and relevant for all students. He achieves this by bringing the science alive for his students through his different experiences. He travels on field trips around the southwest gathering supplies and stories for his students. He makes science accessible to all students. He tutors students with disabilities after school, and tries to keep all students stimulated by creating lessons that are inquiry- driven.

Tony Occhiuzzi

Tony integrates new techniques into old successful lessons. He guides his students through a virtual field trip of the Grand Canyon from the trip he did as a student. He has been an active participant in SpiNet (Educational Seismology Outreach) with a seismograph located in the back of his classroom. Students anxiously check the computer every morning to see what earthquakes have occurred around the world. Tony has taken multiple development workshops to learn new ideas to integrate into the classroom. He now has students discover plate tectonics with the aid of GIS technology through mapping out locations of earthquakes, volcanoes and other important features. Tony has been the science club sponsor for 20 years, helping the students to create a solar-driven boat and compete in a local race that draws college team participants. He invites speakers to the high school to talk about different aspects of science and also does a field trip every other month.

Texas Section

No winner in 2004.

STATE WINNERS

Alabama

Hurd Finnegan is the 2004 Alabama OEST award winner. He teaches biology, physical science, and earth science at Davidson High School in Mobile, Alabama. Mr. Finnegan has been teaching high school science since 1990. He has two degrees in geology; he is one of the few high school science teachers in our state to really understand science. He has degrees from two different universities and he has taken professional development classes all over the country. This is why he was nominated: Hurd is one of the best science teachers in Mobile County, and he is an earth-science teacher. One nominator first met Hurd at an earth-sciences workshop. Hurd was clearly a cut above most teachers. Not only was he interested in the material, he was an active participant in its teaching: he asked questions, provided new ideas, etc. He made a lasting impression, as he must do on his students.

Hurd Finnegan

Georgia

Ego Okafor has taught for fifteen years in the Dekalb County School system and is currently teaching eighth grade earth science at Henderson Middle School in Chamblee, Georgia. She also serves as Science Department Chair and is a co-author of the county curriculum planning guide "Earth Science Curriculum for Juniors". She is active in school science fair activities and coaches the Science, Engineering, Communications, Math, and Enrichment (SECME) team. She recently presented a weather map activity at the National Science Teachers Annual Convention in Atlanta.

As a teacher, Ms. Okafor believes in motivating students to develop an interest in science in such a way that would make them high achievers in science. She aspires to empower her students to believe in their abilities and values as human beings, in community with others. As a result, her classroom fosters a supportive, compassionate, and collaborative learning environment, which helps to unleash students' innate curiosity.

Maryland

Eileen Heady, our Maryland winner was nominated by Rick Thompson, her department head. She teaches seventh grade at McDonogh School, a college preparatory school, in Owing Mills, Maryland where she has taught for 10 years. She holds a bachelors degree in geology from Beloit College and a Masters in Earth Science from Dartmouth College. Her nominator writes: "The excitement that she generates is in part due to her ability to recognize the various learning styles of her students and adjust her lessons so that all students meet with success. Her lessons begin with an inquiry approach to the unit/ topic, and what evolves are various small group activities and individual teaching sessions. In addition, to these lab/activities that she often develops herself, she also incorporates into each lesson reading, writing, and research skills." Eileen initiated an archeoiogical dig five years ago on her school campus and more recently an extensive investigation of the streams on campus. Her colleagues feel fortunate to have someone as committed as Eileen on faculty.

Eileen Heady

Mark Shoengold

Andrew Patrick

Minnesota

Ken Fiscus of Albert Lea High School, Albert Lea, MN is the 2004 winner of the OEST Award for the State of Minnesota.

New Jersey

New Jersey's Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award Recipient, Mark Shoengold, was nominated by Michael Gironda, his science supervisor at Roselle Park High School. Mark has been teaching 33 years and is currently teaching earth science to eighth and ninth graders. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science and a Masters of Arts in Secondary Education for Kean University. His nominator writes, "I sometimes marvel at Mark's creativity when developing learning activities. He also takes traditional strategies and embellishes them in order to enhance their affect. Many of Mark's students have been learning disabled or ESL classified. Mark approaches each teaching assignment as a learning challenge for himself, resulting in an earnest effort to help all children learn science." Mark helped establish the Earth Science Center at Kean University and has been the science coordinator for summer programs for the town of Kenilworth.

New York

The New York winner, Andrew Patrick, was nominated by a former New York and Eastern Section winner, Steve Kluge. Andrew teaches ninth and tenth grades at Fox Lane High School in Bedford New York where he has taught for 5 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Geology from University of Rochester and a Masters of Science from University of South Carolina. His vitae includes presentations at Geological Society of 0 America regional meetings and STANYS, a publication in the journal Paleoceanography, and numerous awards including the STANYS (SE) Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award and the David Martin Award for Outstanding Masters Research. His nominator writes, "Drew understands the value of field work in the teaching of 'good science'." He co-taught a Southern Connecticut State University geology course on the flanks of Vesuvius, he prepare a field guide and chaperoned a student trip to the Grand Canyon, and recently initiated a field experience in the Great Swamp in Patterson, NY. He has really taken the lead in integrating the Internet and technology into his classroom. Drew's gift as an educator is his fundamental understanding of the "big picture" and his ability to convey this to his students.

Ohio

Philip Lacey of East Liverpool, OH is the 2004 winner of the OEST Award for the State of Ohio.

Pennsylvania

Our Pennsylvania winner, nominate by Bonnie Maxwell, teaches at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. William C. Erler, or "Chris" to his friends, has been teaching for 13 years and currently teaches earth science at the sixth grade level. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Muskingham College and a Masters for teachers in geosciences from Mississippi State University. Chris worked for several years to develop a butterfly garden on the school grounds and offers star gazing opportunities. Chris has developed a collaborative thematic field trip experience using the watershed in a local park. Students move through stations manned by course specific instructors and utilize math skills to calculate averages, creative writing skills to record in journals, art in invertebrate sketches, and science to study the water quality. Innovations in the classroom include Karaoke Science, meteorology photojournalism, behind the scenes at the Carn\egie Museum of Natural History, and "Work All Day/Play all Night" sessions for his Olympiad Team. He received the Grand River Academy Teacher of the Year Award, the Excellence in Teaching Award from Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, Outstanding Regional Science Olympiad Coach for three consecutive years. His Olympiad Team won at the state level (2004) and were National Finalists (2003).

William C. Erler

South Carolina

Thomas E. Littlejohn, a career earth science teacher with 27 years experience, is currently the Curator of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Tom serves as the 'earth science specialist' and chair of the department, providing instructional programs in geology, paleontology, and environmental sciences for all ages as well as teacher inservice. Tom's exceptional earth science lessons have garnered him, and the Center, quite a few awards in recent years.

Tom is a consummate hands-on teacher. Instead of just talking about gold mining, Tom designed and built a gold mining flume (salted with both real gold flakes and pyrite) in the back of his classroom so students can experience the thrill of actually finding gold for themselves. Every student is active, involved, and learning critical science concepts. Tom helps lead the state earth science teachers' group and has organized share-a-thons at the state science teachers' convention for the last several years.

Tennessee

Tina King - See narrative under Southeast Section Winner

West Virginia

The West Virginia winner, Michele Adams, was nominated by Tom Repine of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. Michele has 13 years teaching experience and currently teaches seventh grade science at Musselman Middle School. She has a Bachelors in elementary education from Bowling Green State University and a Masters in Secondary Science Education from West Virginia University. Michele has been actively involved in the RockCamp program since 1995. Her nominator writes, "It has been my privilege to witness Michele blossom into a truly professional science educator." Her willingness to engage in professional development opportunities have included presentations at National Science Teachers Association Meetings, Eastern Section National Association of Geoscience Teachers Meetings, Geological Society of America Southeast Meeting, and West Virginia Science Teachers Association Meetings. Her most recent adventure included a trip aboard a research vessel to explore Gakkel Ridge. During her adventure she shared her experience as a research scientist through electronic journaling and on-line daily emails for 65 days with public school students. In 2003 she was awarded the IC White Earth Science Educator Award.

Thomas E. Littlejohn

Michele Adams

Copyright National Association of Geoscience Teachers Jan 2005

Source: Journal of Geoscience Education

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