Tag Archives: Science Teachers

Ohio STEM teacher Annette “Ann” Drake garners a coveted PAEMST award

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Annette “Ann” Drake of Brookville, Ohio, has garnered a coveted PAEMST award. Photo credit: Ohio Northern  University

There are many outstanding educators working with America’s young people in our nation’s public schools. One of these is teacher Annette “Ann” Drake of Ohio. She was recognized in January, 2025, with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) by President Joe Biden.

Ann teaches junior high school mathematics at Brookville Intermediate School in Brookville, In a career that spans 25 years, she has taught 23 of them at Brookville.

But the award-winning educator didn’t begin her professional life as a teacher. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio Northern University in 1989, she accepted a position at an engineering consulting firm in Indiana. It was there that she began volunteering at her daughter’s school. “It was awesome!” Ann declared. And that was when she began to plan a career change. She went back to school, earning her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Wright State University.

As a teacher, Ann believes that every student can learn science, they just need a teacher to believe in them, to support their learning journey. She places an emphasis on differentiated learning, inquiry lessons, and problem-based learning. She works diligently to foster creativity, higher level learning, and problem-solving skills, student-created experiments, hands-on activities, and a variety of labs.

For her work as an educator, Ann has earned many accolades. She was named the recipient of the 2015-2016 Dayton Regional STEM Center: STEM Education Collaboration Award and the 2014-2015 Ohio STEM Educator. She garnered the Air Force Association Award and attended the 2007 Honeywell’s Space Academy for Educators. In addition, she has been awarded multiple grants and held several leadership positions in state organizations, including the Science Education Council of Ohio, the Environmental Education Council of Ohio, and the Ohio Earth Science Teachers Association. Furthermore, she has presented science sessions at the state and national level.

To learn more about Ann, click on this link to an article about her published by Ohio Northern University.

The PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, recognize the dedication, hard work, and importance 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 meeting with the President and a $10,000 cash prize.

Charlie Mary Noble of Texas was a stellar astronomy teacher

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High school mathematics teacher Charlie Mary Noble of Texas was a stellar pioneer in teaching astronomy to students of all ages. Photo credit: Fort Worth Museum

Many outstanding educators make significant contributions to their chosen fields of study. One stellar teacher who did this was Charlie Mary Noble, a mathematics and astronomy teacher from Fort Worth, Texas.

Charlie Mary was born to a pioneer family at Giddings, Texas on Oct. 31, 1877. As a young woman, she attended Warren Institute in Fort Worth and Sam Houston State College. At a time when most women didn’t go to college, Charlie Mary earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a Master’s degree from Texas Christian University (TSU).

Charlie Mary inaugurated her 46-year career as a public school teacher in 1897. She taught mathematics at Paschal High School. While there she established the campus Penta Club, one of the first science clubs for young people to exist in Fort Worth. She also served her school as the Chair of the Mathematics Department. Although she officially retired from the public school system in 1943, she didn’t stop her teaching activities.

During World War II, Charlie Mary agreed to teach a course in celestial navigation designed for US Navy officer trainees at TCU, and in 1947 she began teaching an astronomy course at TCU. That same year she organized a Junior Astronomy Club at the Fort Worth Children’s Museum. A similar club for adults was organized, and was christened the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, an organization that still exists today. Read more about this organization at Fort Worth Astronomical Society.

From 1957—1958 Charlie Mary organized and ran an innovative group she called the Moonwatch Program. Participants were members of her Junior Astronomy Club at the Museum. She trained the children to track the positions of Sputnik and other satellites for the US government, and the kids also helped scientists to determine their precise orbits. For their work, the Moonwatch team was recognized by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

And as if all this were not enough, Charlie Noble was a member of the Woman’s Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, Delta Kappa Gamma, the Lecture Foundation, the Faculty Women’s Club of Texas Christian University, the Texas Academy of Science, and the Tarrant County Historical Society.

For her many years of service as an educator, Charlie Mary earned many accolades. She garnered an honorary doctorate from TCU in 1950. In 1954 she received an Altrusa Civic Award which recognized her as the “First Lady of Fort Worth” for promoting interest in astronomy in young people. In 1955 the Museum’s planetarium was dedicated in her honor, and in 1956 she became the first woman to receive the Astronomical League’s annual award for her promotion of knowledge in the field of astronomy.

This amazing Chalkboard Champion passed away Nov. 30, 1959, in Fort Worth, at the age of 82. She was interred in Greenwood Cemetery.

Florida teacher Bertha Vazquez has earned many accolades

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Science teacher Bertha Vazquez was won many accolades for her work in the classroom. Photo credit: Sage Publishing

I always enjoy sharing stories about one of the many fine science educators in our country. One of these is Bertha Vazquez, an award-winning science teacher from Miami Dade County Public Schools in Florida. She has won many accolades for her work in the classroom.

Bertha taught earth science, physical science, and life science at George Washington Carver Middle School in Miami Dade, Florida. She also taught French, but her main focus has been encouraging instruction in environmental education across the curriculum. Her career as an educator spanned 34 years.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Bertha served as the Director of the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES), a program connected with the Center for Inquiry and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. She retired from the teaching profession in 2023.

Bertha earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, suma cum laude, from the University of Miami in 1989. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Science Education from Florida International University in 1999. She was also named to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 1999.

For her work as an educator, Bertha has earned many accolades. In 2008, she was named the South Florida Regional Science and Engineering Fair Middle School Teacher of the Year. She garnered the Miami Dade Middle School Science Teacher of the Year Award in both 2008 and 1997, and in 1998 she was a finalist for Miami Dade Teacher of the Year. Bertha was also named a Premio Verde Escolar in 2012. She earned a Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM grant in 2014, a Charles C. Bartlett Award for the National Environmental Education Foundation in 2009, and a Verizon Foundation Grant for Educators in 2011. She was also a 2015 State Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Educator Betty Dean Anderson was also a Councilwoman and civic leader

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California science teacher and administrator  Betty Dean Anderson also served her community as a San Bernardino City Councilwoman and civic leader. Photo credit: Press Enterprise

Many outstanding educators also serve their communities diligently as community leaders and volunteers. One of these is Betty Dean Anderson, a science teacher, administrator, and leading figure who lived in San Bernardino, California.

Betty was born on Nov. 2, 1930, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the youngest of six children. As a young woman, she earned her degree in Biology  from Wiley College located in Marshall, Texas.

As soon as Betty earned her college degree, she inaugurated her career in education as a Biology teacher at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California. Eventually, she became a respected administrator, earning a reputation among her colleagues as an individual of fairness, intelligence, and commitment to students.

Betty also served her community as an elected Councilwoman for San Bernardino City, representing the 6th Ward. While in office, the retired educator championed affordable housing, job training for young people, and economic development that revitalized underserved neighborhoods.

In addition to her responsibilities as an educator and civic leader, Betty co-founded the Swans Club, a debutante program that has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to young African American women and provided hours of service to non-profit organizations within the Inland Empire. Betty was also involved with the San Bernardino Valley Chapter of The Links, Inc., an organization that creates career pathways for young women and sponsors cultural opportunities within the Inland Empire. She also served on several civic and nonprofit boards and mentored generations of community leaders. Furthermore, Betty served as a volunteer usher for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games that were held in Los Angeles. One of the highlights of her life was when she was able to attend both inaugurations of President Barack Obama as a guest of Rep. Joe Baca.

Sadly, Betty Dean Anderson passed away in 2025. She was 94 years of age.

 

VA teacher Aline Black Hicks launched an important Civil Rights case

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Virginia science teacher Aline Black Hicks launched an important Civil Rights case. Photo credit: Black Then

Often times teachers are at the forefront of movements that benefit entire groups of people in our society. One of these teachers was educator Aline Black Hicks, a high school science teacher who launched an important civil rights court case about equal pay.

Aline was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 23, 1906. As a young girl, she attended Booker T. Washington High School in her home town. After her graduation, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. The school is known today as Virginia State University. Aline earned her Master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1935.

The neophyte educator inaugurated her career as a teacher when she accepted a position at her alma mater, Booker T. Washington, in 1924. She taught science and chemistry. As an African American, she earned only two-thirds the salary earned by a white teacher doing the same job. Although it was later determined to be a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, this was a common practice in that time.

In 1939, Aline filed a lawsuit against the Norfolk School Board, asking that they base teachers’ salaries on experience and education rather than race. She had the backing of the Norfolk Teachers Association, the Virginia State Teachers Association, and the NAACP. One of her attorneys was Thurgood Marshall, who later became an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. Unfortunately, Aline was fired in retaliation for her lawsuit. Once she was no longer employed by the school district, her case was dismissed. However, her lawyers took the case forward with another local teacher, Melvin O. Alston. Eventually the case went all the way to tour nation’s highest court, where the issue was eventually decided in favor of the African American plaintiffs.

In 1941, the Norfolk School board rehired Aline to teach at the school where she had formerly worked. From 1970 to 1973, she worked at Jacox Junior High School as an Instructional Development Specialist until she retired in 1973.

In 2008, Aline was named a Notable African Americans in Virginia History by the Library of Virginia. In 1971, she garnered the Norfolk “Backbone Award” by the Education Association for her contribution to financial, educational and social equality.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away in Norfolk on August 22, 1974. To read more about her, consult this article in Encyclopedia Virginia.