Tag Archives: Science Teachers

Alaska teacher Jason Daniels garners prestigious PAEMST

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Elementary school teacher Jason Daniels of Soldotna, Alaska, garnered a 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo Credit: Jason Daniels

It is always exciting when a member of the professional community earns recognition for their work in the classroom. Jason Daniels, an elementary school teacher from Soldotna, Alaska, has earned such recognition. In 2020, he garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2020.

Jason teaches at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School in Soldotna. In fact, he has spent his entire career of 23 years there, teaching third through sixth grades. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Jason taught remote classes for grades four through six for families in no less than three local elementary schools.

Whether teaching in person or online, Jason’s focus on his students is obvious. He uses an inquiry-based approach to learning, encouraging his students to observe phenomena in the natural world, which brings the learning to life and makes it relevant to their own lives.

The honored teacher extends his expertise beyond his elementary classroom. Since 2018, Jason has spent his summers teaching STEM to underprivileged youth at Upstream Academy. In addition, he has led professional development workshops, and a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade science teacher collaboration. Since 2014, Jason has participated in collaborations to write, review, and adopt new state science standards. In fact, in 2021, Jason co-presented the new state science standards to teachers all over Alaska, and he assisted in the review of the state pilot science assessment. Furthermore, he has been on several district curriculum committees, and currently serves on the 2021-2022 Science Curriculum Committee. And as if all this were not enough, he has been a master teacher for three pre-service teachers.

The PAEMST is not the only prestigious recognition Jason has earned. In 2012, he traveled to Wodonga, Australia, where he taught for one year as a Victorian International Teaching Fellow.

Jason earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a his Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the University of Alaska. He is a National Board Certified Middle Childhood Generalist.

Good work, Jason!

Minnesota educator Brigid Sandager earns 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award

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Fifth grade teacher Brigid Sandager of Bayport, Minnesota, earned the 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award from Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC). Photo Credit: Minnesota Department of Agriculture

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Brigid Sandager, a fifth grade teacher at Anderson Elementary School in the Stillwater Public School District located in Bayport, Minnesota. Brigid has earned the 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award from Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC). Her career there spans 15 years.

Integrating agricultural education into her instructional program strengthens classroom discussions by allowing students to examine the world around them and how choices made today affect the future, asserts Brigid. Her fifth graders explore science and agriculture through their own observations, and then they share their observations through journaling, collaboration, and technology. “We have strengthened our classroom discussions by looking at what is happening around us and how what we do now impacts our future,” the honored educator says. “I hope the use of curriculum provided by Minnesota Ag in the Classroom expands students’ farm-to-plate knowledge and hopefully encourages them to look beyond how food is grown to the many other STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) career opportunities available through agriculture,” she concludes.

Brigid earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Science with an emphasis in Agriculture Education from the University of Minnesota in 1983. She earned a second Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, in 1988. She earned her Master’s degree in Reading Teacher Education from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, in 2014.

With her honor from MAITC, Brigid received a $500 stipend and $1,500 in expenses to attend the 2021 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, last June. The MAITC program was established 30 years ago as a partnership between public and private entities. The organization is based at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Elem science educator Dr. Jennifer Norford garners awards

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Elementary school educator Dr. Jennifer Norford garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from President Barack Obama in 2008. Photo credit: Jennifer Norford

I always enjoy sharing stories about excellent educators who have earned recognition for their work with students. One of these is Dr. Jennifer Norford, a science teacher from the US Virgin Islands who received Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) from President Barack Obama in 2008.

At the time she garnered her Presidential Award, Jennifer was teaching fifth and sixth grade at the Ulla F. Muller Elementary School in Charlotte Amalie in the Virgin Islands. In the more than two decades she worked in the classroom, Jennifer was praised for her tireless efforts to maintain rigor and relevance in her teacher. She had a reputation for developing curriculum that fostered creativity, scientific inquiry, and cooperative learning in her classroom.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Jennifer also served as the liaison for the High, Objective, Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE), a program funded by the US Department of Education to assist teachers in becoming designated highly qualified teachers. She also coordinated her school’s first-ever School Health Index Plan, served on the School Improvement Team, and was selected president of the Parent-Teacher Association.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, magna cum laude, from the University of the Virgin Islands. She earned her Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Educational Administration. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Educational Leadership from Walden University in 2013. Additionally, she is a member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society.

In addition to her PAEMST award, Jennifer garnered the Outstanding Award for Science Theory and Practice from the College of Further Education in St. Kitts, Virgin Islands.

Science teacher Bill Stockton named Montana’s 2022 Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to Bill Stockton, a high school science teacher from Montana, who has been named his state’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Char-Koosta News.

I am always eager to share stories about dedicated educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. Bill Stockton, a high school science teacher from Montana, is one of these. He has been named the 2022 Montana State Teacher of the Year.

Bill teaches science to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Arlee High School in Arlee, Montana. The town lies 17 miles north of Missoula. Bill, a native of Idaho, is in his fourteenth year of teaching and his twelfth year at Arlee High School. He teaches courses in AP Biology, Physics, Anatomy, Wildlife Biology, Chemistry and Health Science. He also instructs at the Montana Digital Academy.

Bill believes that most teachers in Montana understand the importance of teaching Indigenous cultures, and he asserts this is as it should be. Native American education is an integral part of the honored teacher’s curriculum, and this is one of the reasons he was selected for the award, says Elsie Arntzen, State Superintendent from the Office of Public Instruction. “In all of our classes we should be talking about the Indigenous people of our state, and I think this is something we need to look at nationally, and I think this something I can help other teachers integrate into their classrooms,” Bill says.

Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) issued a statement in which he acknowledged Bill’s successes in the classroom. “Bill’s enthusiasm and passion for teaching has no doubt inspired countless young Montanans,” Senator Daines wrote. “Thank you for being a great example for all Montana teachers.”

Bill earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Montana and his Master’s degree in Science Education at Montana State University. In addition to his recognition as the Montana State Teacher of the Year, he was also a recipient of the Teresa Veltkamp Advocacy Award for Excellence in Indian Education for All in 2020.

 

Whitney Aragaki named Hawaii’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year

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High school science teacher Whitney Aragaki from Hilo, Hawaii, has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: University of Hawaii, Hilo

I always enjoy sharing stories about educators that have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Whitney Aragaki, a high school science teacher who has been named Hawaii’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year.

Currently, Whitney teaches Biology and Environmental Science at Waiakea High School in Hilo, Hawaii. Her skill as an educator has been praised at the highest levels of the state’s Department of Education. “Whitney’s innovative approach to teaching offers students meaningful cultural and place-based learning opportunities that are both rigorous and relevant to our young learners,” asserted Interim Superintendent Hayashi. “Science can be an intimidating subject for students, but Whitney successfully engages her students in exciting and empowering ways,” he continued. Whitney’s principal, Kelcy Koga, agreed. “Mrs. Aragaki’s commitment to excellence goes far beyond her teaching and the four corners of her classroom,” he remarked. “She sees the benefits that a sound education can provide, and is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to not only serve her students but her colleagues and school community as well,” he said.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Whitney has taught AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics, and AP Computer Science Principles for the statewide Hawaii Virtual Learning Network’s E-School since 2013. She is the lead teacher of the Waiakea High Public Services Academy, which was recognized as a National Model Academy under the National Career Academy Coalition in 2018.

Whitney earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Swarthmore College, and her Master’s in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Hawaii, Hilo. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Whitney is a National Board certified teacher in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics, and she is a Google-certified educator. In addition, she is an alumna of the Hawaii State Teacher Fellowship and the National Education Association Teacher Leadership Institute. In 2019 and 2021, she was named a state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in mathematics and science teaching.