Tag Archives: Science Teachers

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.

Carly Santangelo named NY’s 2022 Teacher of the Year

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Agriculture teacher Carly Santangelo has been named New York’s state 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Ocean Times Herald

I am always excited to share a story about an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work. One of these is Carly Santangelo, a secondary school agriculture teacher who has been named New York’s Teacher of the Year for 2022.

Carly teaches agriculture to middle and high school students at Cuba-Rushford Central School in Cuba in western New York State. She engages students, colleagues, and the community by connecting academic content to life-long skills through schoolwide, hands-on projects. She believes strongly in an interdisciplinary, project-based approach to learning and uses agriculture to approach content from other classes. For example, with colleague Joseph Franzen, a Cuba-Rushford history teacher, Carly founded the World Foods and Diversity program. The course helps students understand how gender, race, history, and other global issues relate to the food we eat. The honored educator also works to expose all students to fields traditionally viewed as male-oriented, such as welding. In doing so, she says, she helps break down gender-based barriers and stereotypes.

In addition to teaching her courses, Carly also serves as her school’s advisor for Future Farmers of America (FFA). In this role, she works diligently to develop her students’ leadership skills. In fact, she has coached several of her students to state-winning titles in a variety of career-development events.

Carly actively pursues opportunities to expand the walls of her classroom through grants, field trips, community connections, and guest speakers. She believes in service learning and works alongside her students to give back to the community, both on campus and outside of school. For example, Carly involves her students in initiatives such as volunteering at the local food bank and teaching elementary school students and area businesses about the value of composting.

Carly earned her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources. She earned a second Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science Education from Cornell University and her Master’s in Teaching in both Adolescent Education with an emphasis in Biology and Agricultural Education. Her career as an educator spans nine years.

To read more about Carly Santangelo, click on this link to NYSUT.

LA middle school teacher Robbie Evans earns coveted PAEMST

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James “Robbie” Evans of Sterlington Middle School in Sterlington, Louisiana, has earned a coveted PAEMST award. Photo Credit: News Star

It is always a pleasure for me to share stories about talented educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Louisiana educator James “Robbie” Evans, who has earned a coveted 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

The coveted PAEMST honor recognizes the dedication, hard work, and important role that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The honor comes with a $10,000 cash prize, a certificate signed by President Joe Biden, and a trip to Washington, DC, to attend an honors ceremony with the President.

Robbie Evans has been an educator for the last 10 years. He has spent all of them teaching at his alma mater, Sterlington Middle School, located in Sterlington, Louisiana. He teaches sixth grade science, but he has also taught taught English, Language Arts, and social studies.

The key to keeping his students excited about science, says Robbie, is project-based learning. A typical day for students in his classes centers on collaborative group work, modelling, and hands-on activities. He also has designed instruction to include a multitude of digital platforms where students can use what they have learned in their scientific investigations.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Robbie serves as his school’s Science Department Chair. He is also a participant in the Ouachita Parish School Systems Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) cohort, a districtwide initiative to improve the reading and writing skills of students. As part of the LDC team, Robbie has developed and delivered districtwide presentations on literacy design and created exemplary science literacy modules available to all sixth grade science teachers across the district.

Robbie earned his B.A. in journalism from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and an Master’s degree in Teaching from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana.