Tag Archives: Science Teachers

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.

 

Benavides named 2022 Texas State Teacher of the Year

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High school STEM teacher Ramon Benavides of El Paso, Texas, has been named his state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Ramon Benavides

I always enjoy sharing stories about exemplary educators who have won honors for their work in the classroom. One of these is Ramon Benavides, a high school STEM teacher from El Paso, Texas, who has been named his state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Ramon teaches Biology and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) courses at Del Valle High School in the Ysleta Independent School District. His career there has spanned 12 years.

It is amazing that Ramon made his way into the classroom. He is the son of migrant farmworkers who were forced to drop out of school at a young age to help support their family. Later, Ramon saw his parents return to school, earn their diplomas and become teachers themselves. He took his cue from them.

Ramon says his work as an educator isn’t about the teaching, it’s about the positive exchanges. “The kids are the best part of my job, by far,” he says. “One of my greatest joys is getting to stand outside my classroom and as my kids come in we exchange that smile, and for that split second we know that everything is okay,” he continues.

The honored educator earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio, in 2001, and a second Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Texas, Brownsville, in 2003. He completed the requirements for his Master’s degree in Teaching Science at University of Texas, El Paso, in 2016. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Texas Tech University, Lubbock.

Congratulations, Ramon!

Former science teacher Alberto Carvalho becomes Supt. of LAUSD

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Alberto Carvalho, an immigrant from Portugal, began his career as an educator as a science teacher in Florida. He has just been hired to be the Superintendent of the LAUSD in California. Photo credit: fortwayne.com

Many excellent classroom teachers go on to positions of leadership and influence in their school districts. Alberto Carvalho is a fine example of this. Alberto inaugurated his career in education as a science teacher in Miami, Florida, rising to the position of Superintendent there. He has just been hired to be the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District in California.

Because of his determination and hard work, Alberto was able to put himself through college. He enrolled in courses first at Broward Community College, and later he earned a scholarship to Barry University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree.

Alberto inaugurated his career in education as a science teacher at Miami Jackson Senior High School in Miami-Dade County. He taught physics, chemistry, and calculus there. After four years in the classroom, Alberto served the District in several leadership positions, including Assistant Principal and Chief Communications Officer.

For the past 13 years, Alberto has served as the Superintendent for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. During his tenure there, he garnered local, state, national, and international recognition. He was named Florida’s 2014 Superintendent of the Year; the 2014 National Superintendent of the Year; the 2016 winner of the Harold W. McGraw Prize in Education; the 2018 National Urban Superintendent of the Year; the 2019 National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Superintendent of the Year; and he garnered recognition by Scholastic Administrator as one of “The Fantastic Five” educators making a difference in America. Alberto currently serves on the National Assessment Governing Board, to which he was appointed by the US Secretary of Education. He also serves as a committee member for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and as an Advisory Committee Member to the Harvard Program on Education Policy and Governance.

On Dec. 14, 2021, this Chalkboard Champion was hired to be the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles, California.

Former New Mexico teacher and politician Retta Ward

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Former high school biology teacher Retta Ward of New Mexico also served her state as a capable politician. Photo credit: Washington Times.

Many fine classroom teachers also earn success in political positions. Former high school teacher Retta Ward of New Mexico was one of these. After she left the classroom, she served as the State Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health.

Retta was born on May 4, 1953, in New Mexico. As a young girl, Retta grew up in the southeastern New Mexico town of Hagerman. As a high school student, Retta served her school as the editor of the yearbook, and she also claimed Homecoming Queen honors. When she graduated, she was named as the school’s valedictorian.

Retta earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from the University of New Mexico, and her Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Arizona.

After earning her degrees, Retta inaugurated her career as a teacher when she accepted a position as a high school biology teacher in Cave Creek, Arizona. Later she served in middle schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In all, her career in education spanned ten years.

Retta was appointed to the position of State Secretary of New Mexico Department of Health in 2013 by Governor Susana Martinez. Retta served in the position until her passing in 2016. Previously, she served as Secretary of the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Before that, she managed the arthritis program for the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Sadly, Retta suffered a medical emergency while driving alone near Santa Fe, New Mexico. When her car was found, emergency personnel discovered that she had succumbed to a condition that was not an automobile accident. This was on March 3, 2016. Later it was determined that Retta had suffered an aortic dissection. She was 62 years old.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to an article published in the Albuquerque Journal.

Patricia Eshelman named New York’s 2021 Agriculture Teacher of the Year

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Science educator Patricia Eshelman of Bolivar, New York, has been named the 2021 NYAITC Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: New York Agriculture in the Classroom.

Congratulations go to New York teacher Patricia Eshelman, who was recently honored by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization and the National Food Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is part of the US Department of Agriculture. Patricia has been named the 2021 New York Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. She earned this honor for her unique lessons in the classroom that get students outside of a normal classroom setting.

Patricia teaches biology and a course entitled Sustainable Living and Agriculture at Bolivar Richburg High School in Bolivar, New York. The course covers a broad range of agricultural topics from botany to ethics, and allows students valuable hands-on learning experiences and community-engagement.

Patricia has created lessons she calls “Farmer Fridays,” where she invites guest speakers to talk to her classes. In addition, the innovative educator directs her students in building, planting, and maintaining a garden as part of her school’s Wolverine Environmental Education Center (WEE). In their garden, the students have planted garlic, asparagus, blueberries, black raspberries, fruit trees, perennial flowers, and tomatoes. The food the students grow is given away or sold to the community, to teachers on campus, or to the school cafeteria. In addition to the garden, the students conduct studies about food waste which led them to explore composting and vermicomposting food from the school cafeteria.

Patricia was one of eight teachers across the country who was honored with a 2021 National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award. The group was honored at the 2021 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference “Fields of Dreams” in Des Moines, Iowa, last summer.

To read more about Patricia Eshelman, see this article published about her by the Daily Reporter.