Tag Archives: Science Teachers

New York STEM teacher Kimberly Lau garners 2022 Sloan Award

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New York City teacher Kimberly Lau has garnered a 2022 Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching Science & Math. Photo credit: The Midwood Argus

I always enjoy sharing stories about excellent educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Kimberly Lau, a STEM teacher from New York. She has been named a recipient of the 2022 Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching Science & Math.

The Sloan Awards recognize the exceptional work of educators in New York City public high schools. The awards cast a spotlight on educators who achieve superb results while inspiring youth to excel in science and mathematics and pursue careers in related fields. Kimberly is one of seven New York educators who have been honored this year.

Kimberly teaches Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Ocean Science, and Culinary Science courses at Midwood High School. Midwood is a public high school located on the campus of Brooklyn College. The school partners with the college to offer courses in Advanced Placement in three main programs: Medical Science, Humanities, and Liberal Arts.

It just so happens that Midwood is Kimberly’s high school alma mater. After seeing the dedication of her teachers when she was in school, she knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps. After her graduation from college, she substituted at Midwood, and in 2013 she was offered a permanent position teaching chemistry.

Kimberly is well-liked and highly-respected among her students. “I learned a great deal about science in the classes I took with Ms. Lau,” expresses former Midwood student Alyssa Kattan. “But she also taught me so much more, including how to aim high.” Student Faith Matthew agrees. “When we make a mistake, Mrs. Lau doesn’t correct us in a way that’s discouraging,” Faith declares. “She does it in a way that makes us want to do better next time. So every time I’m in one of her classes, I always see a linear increase of how well I do because she makes me want to try harder,” Faith continues.

In addition to her selection for a Sloan Award, Kimberly also garnered the Sidney Millman Award in 2021. Since 2017, she has also served as a Master Teacher for Math for America.

 

Science teacher Elsbeth Kroeber actively countered class, race prejudice during “Nazi years”

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Early 20th-century science teacher and administrator Elsbeth Kroeber authored a textbook that actively countered class and race prejudice during the “Nazi years.” Photo Credit: Midwood High School

I always enjoy sharing stories about excellent educators who have earned acclaim for their work in the classroom. One of these is Elise Elsbeth Kroeber, an early 20th-century science teacher who authored a general biology curriculum that during her time was widely-used throughout New York Public Schools.

Elise, who preferred to be called Elsbeth, was born Nov. 28, 1882, in Manhattan, New York. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 1903 from Columbia University. She also studied at Barnard. After earning her degree, Elsbeth worked for many years as a biology teacher.

While teaching, Elsbeth saw the need to vastly update the curriculum for general biology courses, known as the Kroeber Curriculum. In addition to her work in the classroom, Elsbeth completed a great deal of technical writing and editing. She co-authored the biology textbook Adventures of Living Things, which was widely used in high school biology classes. When it was published in 1938, the textbook was viewed as an innovative approach to biology. The volume was one of the first in a wave of biology textbooks published during the “Nazi years” that actively countered class and race prejudice and sought to dispel a popular and institutional approval for the scientifically erroneous and immoral theory of eugenics.

Before her retirement in 1954, Elsbeth worked as an Assistant Principal at Midwood High School in Brooklyn. In what were supposed to be her Golden Years, she served as a supervisor and board member for eh Schools Volunteer Program of the Pubic Education Association, a program providing tutors for disadvantaged students in New York City. She also developed and supervised professional development inservice for teachers who wished to become department chairs.

In addition to her professional work, this Chalkboard Champion was a member of the American Biological Institute and the National Association of Biology Teachers, that she speaks German conversationally, that she has a secondary specialty in microbiology and immunology, that her salary is between $7,000-$8,000/year and that in addition to teaching, she does technical writing or editing.

Elise Elsbeth Kroeber passed away in Dec. 3, 1969. She was 87 years old. Since her passing, the New York Biology Teachers Association awards a graduating New York City senior with its Elsbeth Kroeber Memorial Award in her honor.

 

Science teacher Ann Mah served in the Kansas House of Reps

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High school science teacher Ann Mah also served in the Kansas State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: The Topeka Capital-Journal

Many fine classroom teachers have also achieved success as politicians. One of these is Ann Mah, a high school science teacher who has also served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Ann was born May 5, 1951, in Clay Center, Kansas. Her father worked as a machinist and her mother worked as a public school teacher. Ann earned both her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s degree in Education from Emporia State University. Once she completed her education, she worked as a science teacher in public schools in Emporia, Kansas. Her career as an educator spanned five years.

In 2004, Ann inaugurated her career in politics when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Kansas House of Representatives. She served there for eight years. She represented the 53rd District from 2005 and 2013. While in office, she was a member of the Committees for Education; High Education; and Local Government. In 2016, after she left the State Assembly, Ann was elected to the Kansas State Board of Education representing District 4. She currently occupies this position.

Ann has also worked as a small business owner. Her company, Discover Strategies, provides speaking, consulting, and training services. In addition, she has published three business training books and has been employed as the business skills writer for the magazine Hers Kansas.

Ann has also served on the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors, the State Committee of the North Central Association, and the Board of Directors of the United Way of Greater Topeka. Currently, Ann is a member of the Capitol Area Federated Women’s Democratic Club, the Shawnee County Democrats, and the American Business Women’s Association. She is president of the Lutheran Fine Arts Council of Topeka. 

For her work as an educator, lawmaker, and business owner, Ann was recognized as the 1997 National Woman of the Year by the American Business Women’s Association. She served as the Association’s national president in 2002. In that capacity, Ann traveled throughout the country speaking on business and education issues. In 2000, Ann was also recognized as a YWCA Woman of Excellence. She was honored by the Kansas Association for Career and Technical Education for her legislative work on career and tech ed. And as if all that were not enough, she was nominated as a Woman of Influence by Go Topeka in 2018.

To learn more about Ann Mah, visit her website at AnnMah.org.

NH science teacher Tristan Bowen garners prestigious PAEMST honors

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Elementary teacher Tristan Bowen of New Hampshire has garnered a prestigious Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Photo Credit: PAEMST

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Tristan Bowen, an elementary school science teacher from New Hampshire who has garnered a 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

This prestigious award honors 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 PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a $10,000 cash prize.

Tristan has been teaching for 22 years. For the past 15 years, she has taught a self-contained fourth grade class at Riddle Brook School in Bedford, New Hampshire. Previously, she taught for five years at Russell Street Elementary School, and prior to that, she inaugurated her career at Nantucket Middle School, where she taught for two years.

“What sets Tristan apart is her forward-thinking and student engagement abilities, especially in the area of STEM education,” asserts Molly McCarthy, Principal of Riddle Brook School. “She encourages creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving through interest-based learning for her students,” agreed Mike Fournier, Superintendent of the Bedford School District.

This amazing teacher has a passion for writing student-driven science curriculum and is trained in NGSX science curriculum implementation. She mentors teachers on the implementation of NGSX principles, and she aligns and writes Bedford’s science curriculum with NGSX and NGSS standards. To facilitate maximum learning opportunities, Tristan has orchestrated lessons for her students that allow them to connect with scientists both in the community and worldwide.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Tristan serves as a Professional Learning Community Facilitator for her fourth grade team. She is also a member of her school’s Enrichment Committee, which worked hard to initiate the Full STEAM Ahead Day at her school. She is a member of New Hampshire Science Teachers Association and NSTA. Also, she has established a working relationship with University of New Hampshire at Manchester, is a trained STEM docent, and has written a Citizen Science integration curriculum. As if all that were not enough, Tristan has written Wisdom Work Curriculum and has shared the innovative lessons at Southeastern Regional Education Service Center. The lessons were so exceptional that she presented Wisdom Work at the Christa McAuliffe Conference for New Hampshire Society for Technology in Education and at Bedford’s Future Ready Conference.

Tristan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1990, and her Master’s degree from Boston College in 1994. She is certified to teach kindergarten through sixth grade and Moderate Special Needs, kindergarten through ninth grade.

To learn more about Tristan Bowen, see this link to the New Hampshire Department of Education.

Matt Nielson: STEM teacher, veteran, and finalist for 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

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Science educator Matt Nielson from Valley City, Minnesota, has been named a finalist for the honor of 2022 Minnesota State Teacher of the Year. He is also a member of the National Guard. Photo Credit: US Army

There are many dedicated, and, I dare say, heroic teachers who work diligently in American schools. One of them is Matt Neilson, a science teacher from North Dakota who is also a member of the Minnesota National Guard.

Matt currently teaches chemistry, physics, and STEM courses to 11th and 12th graders at Valley City High in Valley City, North Dakota. He also serves as the Head Coach for both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. His work in his school is so highly respected and appreciated that Matt has been named one of four finalists for 2022 North Dakota Teacher of Year honors.

Matt’s curriculum emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. For example, he developed one lesson that required students to create a periodic table based on fictitious elements. In collaborative learning pairs, the students looked for a pattern, debate their proposed solutions with each other, and then justify their conclusions. This Chalkboard Champion also promotes the value of relationships. “The more adults that they know that care about them, that kind of helps them along their path,” declares Matt. 

In addition to his work in the classroom, Matt serves as a Captain in the North Dakota National Guard. His military occupational specialty is a chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear officer. For his service, the exemplary educator has earned a Meritorious Service Medal for completing 20 years of service. “I served over in Iraq in 2003-2004,” reveals Matt. “In 2006, I re-enlisted, and in 2009 I talked with my wife and we decided, you know what, we’re going to make a career of it and stayed in for 20,” he continues. “I believed in what we were doing. I believed in the mission. I believed in our state and our country,” he says.