Tag Archives: Science Teachers

Paul Timm named Nebraska’s Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to Paul Timm, a science educator from Lyons, Nebraska, who has been named his state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: AgUpdate.

Congratulations go out to Paul Timm, a science educator from Lyons, Nebraska. Paul has been named his state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Paul currently works at Lyons-Decatur Northeast Secondary School in Lyons. The school is located about 70 miles northwest of Omaha. There he teaches biology, agriculture education, and health science for grades 7 through 12. Throughout his 17-year career, he has taught 18 different courses, including AP Biology, a science research course, Earth and space science, and welding and agricultural mechanics. In addition, Paul has taught a leadership class, sponsored his school’s Quiz Bowl, advised the National Honor Society on his campus. As if all this were not enough, Paul has also coached cross county and track and field. His cross country teams have earned four conference championships and five state qualifications.

Paul says he views learning as an entrepreneurial venture. Students are not just employees at the job, he believes, but business owners building an enterprise of learning with passion, personal choice, and full ownership. “I begin by fostering a culture which promotes curiosity and questions, sharing of ideas, celebrating successes, and willingness to learn from failures,” explains Paul. “Project- and inquiry-based learning drives education to the highest levels while extending the learning environment beyond the classroom and providing student choice,” he declares. Using this philosophy, Paul strives to prepare his students for life outside school.

Paul earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education and his Master’s degree in Entomology, both from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He is also a National Geographic Certified Educator, a 2020 Advocate for the Society for Science and the Public, and a 2017 Nebraska Finalist for the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching.

To read more about Paul Timm, click on this link to the University of Nebraska.

Covid-19 claims life of South Carolina teacher Jackqueline Lowery

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Sadly, we report that middle school science teacher Jackqueline Lowery of Darlington, South Carolina, succumbed to Covid-19 on Sept. 18, 2021. Photo credit: Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home.

With great sadness we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Jacqueline Lowery, a middle school teacher from Darlington, South Carolina, succumbed to the disease on Sept. 18, 2021. She was just 28 years old.

The fallen educator was a graduate of Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology, where she graduated in 2011. While a student there, Jackqueline was a member of the Beta Club and the National Honor’s Society. In addition, she graduated Magna Cum Laude and was awarded the prestigious Heart of The Phoenix Award.

After her high school graduation, Jackqueline continued her studies at Francis Marion University. While there, she participated in several organizations. She was elected Vice President of the Student Government Association, the President of the Senate, the Vice President of the National Pan Hellenic Council, the Treasurer of The Award Winning Francis Marion YGB Gospel Choir, and the Chaplain and Treasurer of the Esteemed Xi Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In May 2016, Jackqueline completed the requirements for her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Literature. She was also working on her Master’d degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix at the time of her passing.

Once she completed her education, Jackqueline inaugurated her career as a teacher at Darlington Middle School in Darlington County School District. She taught science to seventh graders and also served her school as the Head Volleyball Coach. According to those who knew her, Jackqueline had a passion for each and every student that she encountered, and she believed that every life mattered.

Jackqueline had declined to get a vaccination because she was breast-feeding her nine-month-old son and was unsure how the vaccination would affect her child.

Amanda Hargreaves named South Dakota’s 2021 Teacher of the Year

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South Dakota’s Amanda Hargreaves has been named as her state’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. She teaches at Mitchell Middle School in Mitchell, South Dakota. Photo credit: Dakota University.

I always enjoy sharing stories about talented educators that have been honored for their work in the classroom. One of these is Amanda Hargreaves, who has been named South Dakota’s 2021 State Teacher of the Year.

Amanda inaugurated her career as an educator in 2010 at Longfellow Elementary School. Although it was her first year of teaching, she established an anti-bullying program there. Currently, Amanda teaches science and Language Arts to sixth graders at Mitchell Middle School in Mitchell, South Dakota. She has taught there since 2011. In Amanda’s classroom, the emphasis is on establishing and nurturing relationships. Her “think outside the box” approach makes her classroom an innovative learning environment. The creative educator incorporates real-world situations and project-based learning in classroom lessons. An example of this is her “force and motion carnival.” For this carnival, students design and construct carnival games to demonstrate their understanding of Newton’s laws of motion.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Amanda serves on the Principal’s Cabinet Leadership Team and her school’s Spirit Committee. She also provides professional development opportunities for her colleagues frequently. And, like many teachers, Amanda offers her students after-school tutoring.

Despite the many challenges and frequent changes in teaching, Amanda is happy with her career choice. “Teaching is the most rewarding profession in the world. Even on my most challenging days, I can’t wait to go back the next day,” she declares.

Amanda earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Dakota State University and her Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota.

To read more about this amazing educator, see this article published about her by Dakota University.

Mississippi teacher Megean Millis succumbs to Covid-19

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Sadly, biology teacher Megean Millis of Picayne, Mississippi, succumbed to Covid-19 on August 4, 2021. Photo credit: McDonald Funeral Home.

Sadly, the educational community is mourning the loss of yet another teacher to Covid-19. Megean Millis succumbed to the disease on August 4, 2021. She was just 26 years old.

Megean was born on September 26, 1994, in her native town of Pecayune, Mississippi. As a teenager, she graduated from Pecayune Memorial High School in 2013. After her high school graduation, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi. At the time of her passing, Megean was working on her Master’s degree from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Once she earned her degrees, the neophyte educator returned to her alma mater, Picayune High School, where she taught Biology 1, Foundations of Biology, ACT Science & Reading, and Physics. She also served as the coach of the school’s “Pride of the Tide” Dance Team.

The popular teacher, who was not vaccinated, became ill while on vacation with her family a month before her death. She passed away just one day before classes for the 2021-2022 school year were set to begin.

Former teacher Rebecca Pringle serves as NEA President

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Former Pennsylvania middle school teacher and current President of the National Education Association Rebecca Pringle works tirelessly to improve conditions in schools for both teachers and students. Photo credit: NEA

A former Pennsylvania educator who now serves as the current President of the National Education Association works tirelessly to improve conditions in schools for both teachers and students. She is Rebecca Pringle, who has logged an extensive career as a middle school science teacher.

Rebecca was born in 1955 in Philadelphia.  As a young girl, she attended Philadelphia High School for girls, one of the city’s most prestigious magnet schools. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her Master’s degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Once she completed her education, Rebecca taught middle school science in the Susquehanna Township School District for 28 years. In total, her career in the classroom spans 31 years.

Throughout the years she served as a classroom teacher, Rebecca also served in a number of roles in the NEA, an organization that currently serves three million members nationwide. Her first position was Secretary/Treasurer. In 2014, she was elected NEA’s Vice President. In 2020, Rebecca assumed the mantle of President. This position earns Rebecca the title of the highest-ranking African American female labor leader in America. In this role, the indefatigable union leader has worked tirelessly to limit federal testing requirements, increased funding for schools, greater equity for students, and to make teacher evaluation and accountability practices more fair.

For her work on behalf of fellow educators, Rebecca has earned many accolades. She is a recipient of the National Peace Medal for Leader of Educational Excellence; a recipient of the Black Women’s Roundtable Education Innovation & Social Justice Leadership Award from the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; the Woman of Power Award from the National Action Network; and she was named Community Woman of the Year by the American Association of University Women. For her efforts on behalf of teachers nationwide, President Barack Obama selected Rebecca to be a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. Her work on the Commission included addressing issues on teacher recruitment and retention, STEM access and opportunities, and college preparation and completion.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this biography of her published on the website of the NEA.