Tag Archives: Science Teachers

Oregon science teacher Connie Robbins earns accolades

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Oregon science educator Connie Robbins has been named Harney County’s 2023 Regional Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Linked In

There are many exceptional educators working with our nation’s young people in American schools. and out is always a pleasure to share the story of one of them. Today I’d like to share the story of Connie Robbins, a high school science teacher from Oregon. She was named Harney County’s 2023 Regional Teacher of the Year.

Connie teaches science and art at Crane High School in Crane, where she has been since 2010. There she instructs courses in biology, chemistry, physical science, forensics, health, and art. She has also served her school as the Head Coach for the clay target team.

This exceptional educator has a reputation for creating innovative and stimulating curriculum in her classroom. “I engage my students in real-life problems in their own environment and through worldly events,” says Connie. “This helps students see outside themselves and fosters problem-solving skills for later in life.”

In addition to her work at Crane High, Connie also taught biology at the college level through Eastern Oregon University, and she has participated in the Oregon Science Project as a Learning Facilitator. She served as the President of the Oregon Science Teachers Association from 2018 to 2020. She also served as an archeology technician for the US Forest Service in Hines, Oregon, for 11 summers, from 2009 through 2021. In this position, she worked as a wildlife technician, monitoring goshawks and various woodpeckers. And as if all that were not enough, this multi-talented educator has been a freelance artist for the past 37 years.

Connie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies, Science, and Health in 2008, and her Master’s degree in Education in 2009, both from the Eastern Oregon University.

 

Science teacher Cheryl Turpin served in VA State House of Delegates

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Science teacher Cheryl Turpin, third from left, works with students at Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was elected to serve in her state’s House of Delegates. Photo Credit: Christine Organ

Many excellent educators have also served as capable politicians. One of these was Cheryl Turpin, a high school science teacher who has represented her community in the Virginia State House of Delegates.

Cheryl was born in 1963 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Her father, who served 23 years in the military, eventually settled the family in Fairfax County, Virginia.

As a young woman, Cheryl earned her Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Virginia.

After earning her degrees, Cheryl taught science at the high school level in public schools in Virginia Beach. Currently she teaches Advanced Placement environmental Science at Frank W. Cox High School. She is also a participant in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a program that seeks to close the achievement gap by preparing minority students for college. For her exemplary work with students, Cheryl was nominated for Teacher of the Year by her fellow teachers at Cox High in 2016.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Cheryl has served as a Board Member for the Make a Difference Foundation, as Activities Coordinator for several school PTA’s, a Girl Scouts Troop Leader, a coach for the Neighborhood Soccer League, and a member of the Sierra Club.

In November of 2017, Cheryl was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent the 85th District, which includes Virginia Beach. She remained in office from Jan., 2018 to Jan., 2020. As a legislator, Cheryl sat on the Education Committee. She was an advocate for reducing mandated testing so that more time could be added back into classroom instruction. She also supported full-day public kindergarten for every child in Virginia, putting more resources into STEM education, and classroom technology for teachers. She was also committed to expanding economic opportunity for Virginians by increasing infrastructure spending, raising the minimum wage, creating an economic environment that encouraged small businesses, and expanding broadband access.

NJ teacher Brenna Baker named 2023 Atlantic County Teacher of the Year

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New Jersey biology teacher Brenna Baker has been named the 2023 Atlantic County Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: New Jersey State Department of Education

I am always excited when I discover another educator who has been honored for their outstanding work in the classroom. One of these is Brenna Baker, a high school science teacher from New Jersey who has been named the 2023 Atlantic County Teacher of the Year.

Brenna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and Education from Richard Stockton University located in Galloway Township, New Jersey. She earned both her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and her supervisor certification from The College of New Jersey located in Ewing Township, New Jersey. Currently, the honored educator is working on her doctoral thesis at the University of New England, a private university located in Biddeford, Maine.

Brenna teaches biology courses at Absegami High School in Greater Egg Harbor. In addition, she has coached academic and extracurricular sports teams, advised clubs, directed backstage, and participated on countless educational committees. As if all that were not enough, she has also led professional learning communities on assessment and Next Generation Science Standards, written over $40,000 in grants, and is a founding member of her school’s Green Team. Brenna has worked in the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District for the past 19 years. Furthermore, she has taught courses as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Stockton University, for the past eight years.

In addition to her recognition as 2023 Atlantic County Teacher of the Year, Brenna has  garnered a Clean Teen Glitter Award, she is a Recipient of the March Teacher of the Month Award WXPN in 2009, and she garnered the Atlantic County Utilities Authority Clean Communities Litter Award in 2019. That same year she also won a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey Grant to expand her school’s urban farming program.

CA teacher Alyssa Worbetz honored by College Football Playoff National Championship program

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Meet Alyssa Worbetz, a science teacher and the Director of Movement at Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS) in Panorama City, a suburb of Los Angeles in Southern California. She has been selected as one of 46 educators to be honored this year by the Champions Education Here program sponsored by the College Football Playoff National Championship.

At GALS, Alyssa champions access and exposure to sports for her school’s entire all-female student body. “I’ve seen sports really improve the outcomes in the classroom,” asserts Alyssa. In addition, the honored educator says that regular participation in daily movement reduces depression and anxiety. For this reason, every school day begins with “morning movement,” a workout for the staff and the students. Additionally, movement in incorporated into class curriculum as much as possible throughout the day.

Prior to teaching at GALS LA, Alyssa spent seven years teaching high school science in Los Angeles schools. She also logged over ten years of experience coaching field hockey and softball on a variety of high school teams, national programs, clinics, and camps for players between the ages of 8 and18.

Alyssa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with an emphasis in Cellular and Molecular Biology from New Jersey’s Farleigh-Dickinson University, Florham, in 2009. She earned her Masters degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Farleigh-Dickinson University, Florham, in 2010. She earned a second Masters degree in Biology, cum laude, from South Carolina’s Clemson University in 2016.

The Champions Educate Here program annually identifies and celebrates educators, including physical education teachers, elementary, teachers, special education teachers, coaches, and after-school staff, who nurture the academic, mental health, and social-emotional needs of students through sport, play, and movement. Each selected educator will receive up to $20,000 to expand their efforts at their school. To learn more about the Champions Education Here program sponsored by the College Football Playoff National Championship, click on this link: LosAngeles2023.com/Legacy.

STEM teacher Gertrude Clarke inducted into NJ Inventors Hall of Fame

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STEM teacher Dr. Gertrude Clarke was inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Newton STEM

Students throughout America are incredibly lucky to be taught by some of the most brilliant educators that our country has to offer. One of these is Dr. Gertrude M. Clarke, a high school STEM teacher was been inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame.

In 1954, Gertrude earned her Bachelor’s degree from Douglass College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She also completed courses in radiology at Rutgers University; electronics courses at the RCA Institute; chemistry and physics courses at Seton Hall University; and coursework in atomic, nuclear, and solid waste physics at the Yale University Graduate School. By 1987 the talented educator had earned her PhD from Rutgers University.

In the high school classroom, Gertrude taught STEM courses in basic science, physics, chemistry, and environmental science at Chatham High School, a public school located in Chatham, New Jersey. While teaching there, she also designed an Advanced Placement course in Nucleonics, a class that focused on aspects of nuclear physics.

For her excellent work in the classroom, Princeton University recognized her with Distinguished Secondary School Teaching in the State of New Jersey in 1978. In 1981, she garnered the Citation for Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from The National Science Teachers Association. In 1985, she was named a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

Gertrude keenly wanted K-12 students in New Jersey to be excited about science, and to recognize the relevance of science, mathematics, computer science, and technology in their lives. To achieve this goal, she founded the New Jersey Business, Industry, and Science Education Consortium. She served as the consortium’s Executive Director from 1981 to 1999. In addition, she served for 16 years on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame (NJIHF). After her retirement, Gertrude herself became an inductee into the NJIHF in 2011.

Sadly, Gertrude Clarke passed away on May 15, 2020. She was 88 years old. To read more about the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame, click on this link: NJinvent.org.