Tag Archives: Science Teachers

NJ STEM teacher Christine Girtain named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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STEM educator Christine Girtain has been named the 2023 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: New Jersey Education Association

I am always excited to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Christine Girtain, an accomplished science teacher from Toms River, New Jersey.

Christine teaches STEM courses at Toms River High School North and Toms River High School South in Toms River. In fact, she is the Director of a three-year authentic science research course for high school students in grades 10 through 12. As the program’s director, Christine guides her students in projects covering such topics as the effects of fruit seed extracts on bacteria, bio-engineering E. coli , and studies on bees. “Through this program, our students and teachers will be doing amazing cutting-edge work, and potentially fundraising for our schools at the same time,” declares Christine.

This honored educator believes in offering opportunities for her students to expand their horizons globally. She has taken students to do research in Costa Rica with Seeds of Change, she has led them in a joint project with science students in Israel; and she has escorted them on educational tours in Europe.

“I love the bonds I build with my students, especially teaching the research class,” Christine says. “I am always trying to meet new people and learn new things that I can bring back to my students. The more I learn, the more I can help my students find fulfilling careers. After all, I love my job, and I want the same thing for my students,” she concludes.

In addition to her work with students in the classroom, Christine is a national presenter and advocate for increasing agricultural literacy, working with Nourish the Future, the National Corn Growers Association, the United Soybean Board, the Beef Checkoff, and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. And as if all that were not enough, she has brought in more than $185,000 in grant funds to fund student research projects and STEM camps.

Her selection as New Jersey Teacher of the Year is not the only recognition Christine has received.  She was named the Genetics Educator of the Year by the National Association of Biology Teachers in 2022;  the Ocean County Teacher of the Year in 2022-2023; the Army Education Outreach Educator of the Year in 2021; and the New Jersey STEM Pathways Teacher of the Year in 2019. In 2021, she was selected as a state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Award (PAEMST).

Christina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Education from the College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey, in 1994. She earned her Master’s degree in Earth Science Instruction and Curriculum from Kean University in Union, New Jersey, in 2005. She completed her student teaching assignment in Lancaster, England. Her career as an educator spans 28 years.

Science teacher Lori Danz named Wisconsin’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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Science teacher Lori Danz of Superior, Wisconsin, has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Waterton Daily Times

I always enjoy sharing the story of exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work I the classroom. One of these is Lori Danz, a science teacher from Wisconsin. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Lori teaches Biology at Superior High School in Superior, Wisconsin. She also serves as the School Forest Coordinator for her district. In this role, she connects students directly with nature through an outdoor forest program which she has tailored for all grade levels. In fact, through her program, over 2,000 students visit the Superior School Forest each year. There they learn about the Northwoods’ fish, trees, plants, insects, deer, ruffed grouse, and other forest inhabitants. In addition to organizing the forest curriculum, Lori provides professional development on outdoor education throughout her district and at state conferences for teachers.

Personally, I think it’s amazing that the school district places so much emphasis on forest education. But Lori is not surprised. “I think a lot of people see our forest as a place to learn science,” she declares. “And although that’s my passion, and you know, that’s what I chose to teach, what’s special about this place is it’s everything: It’s writing, it’s music, it’s art, it’s math, it’s science,” she continues. “So that’s, where a place like this is so special, because we can reach all students of all interests, and we just use nature as the context to do that,” Lori concludes.

The honored educator is a member of the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education and the National Science Teachers Association. She has served as a district representative for the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers (WSST). For her work in the classroom, that organization honored her with a Regional Award for Excellence in Science Education.

Lori earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and her Master’s degree in curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Wisconsin, Superior. She has been teaching for 32 years.

 

NYC STEM teacher Bianca Bibiloni garners a 2023 Big Apple Award

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Elementary school science teacher Bianca Bibiloni from Queens, New York, has garnered a 2023 Big Apple Award. Photo credit: PS 14 Fairview

There are many fine educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Bianca Bibiloni, an elementary school STEAM teacher from New York City, who has earned a 2023 Big Apple Award.

Bianca teaches at PS 14 Fairview in Queens. She has worked there for 13 years. The school offers courses that focus on equity-based practices and culturally responsive education. To that end, she helped develop the school’s UNITY team.

In addition, Bianca has made it her mission to help her students to develop into problem-solving scientists. In fact, she spearheaded the school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program. An integral part of her program has been her involvement in the GrowNYC Recycling Champions program, a nonprofit organization that has established over 800 school gardens. Bianca has also participated in the Sustainable STEAM Fair. At her school site, Bianca has organized many garden initiatives for her students, and she is involved in the Seed to Plate Program. At one point, the innovative educator built a raised bed garden on top of a concrete schoolyard.

Congratulations, Bianca!

 

 

TN STEM teacher Evie LaFollette garners 2023 Yager Exemplary Teaching Award

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STEM teacher Evie LaFollette of Tennessee has garnered a 2023 Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award from the National Science Teaching Association. Photo credit: Kingsport City Schools

Congratulations go to Evie LaFollette, a STEM teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee. She has garnered a 2023 Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award from the National Science Teaching Association.

The Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award annually recognizes six science teachers who successfully use innovation and excellence in their classroom. The recipients of the award receive $1,000 towards their expenses to attend the annual NSTA National Conference on Science Education, and an additional $1,000 for their personal use. Each of the six teachers selected were invited to present at the conference, attend the district director meet-and-greet, and participate in their NSTA District Director Leadership retreat.

Evie has been an educator for fourteen years, seven of them at Dobyns-Bennett High, where she teaches Biology courses. She is obviously dedicated to her students and to her work. “It is my goal that each of my students feel seen, accepted, and supported in my classroom,” Evie declares. “I try to inspire my students to approach science like an engineer, always looking for solutions and being creative in their problem solving approach,” she says.
For the past ten years, Evie has also instructed online Psychology and Advanced Placement Psychology courses for the Niswonger Foundation. She also teaches Synthetic Biology at East Tennessee State University in a program which provides college credit to gifted and talented high school students throughout the state. And as if all that were not enough, she leads teacher workshops to train high school teachers all over Tennessee in how to implement Synthetic Biology and Genetic Engineering. Furthermore, in April, 2022, she was a presenter of “Life Changing Science Education” at the international science conference SynBioBeta held in Oakland, CA.
Evie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from Milligan University in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

To learn more about the National Science Teachers Association, click on this link to the NSTA.

RI science teacher Amy Biagioni garners prestigious PAEMST

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Science educator Amy Biagiioni of Rhode Island has garnered a prestigious PAEMST. Photo credit: Rhode Island State Department of Education

There are many excellent science educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Amy Biagioni, a science teacher from West Greenwich, Rhode Island. She has garnered a prestigious 2023 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching) from her state’s Department of Education.

The PAEMST recognizes 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 visit to the White House and a $10,000 cash prize.

Amy has been in the classroom since 2014. She currently teaches physics, chemistry, and engineering courses at Exeter-West Greenwich Regional High School in Rhode Island, where she has worked for the past 15 years. In her courses, Amy places special emphasis on wind energy, and leads her creative students in wind energy competitions each year. In fact, her teams were named Top Performers in the 2021 National KidWind Wind Turbine Challenge by the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce.

From 2012 through 2018, Amy worked as an instructor for the Spark Summer Inquiry Program at Brown University. There she developed and led inquiry-based activities for the advanced middle school summer science program. The activities covered topics related to the spread of disease and projectile motion.

Amy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Science, Physics, and Applied Mathematics at the University of Rhode Island in 2004. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum Instruction and Assessment from Jones International University in 2007.

To learn more about Rhode Island’s state PAEMST program, click on this link: RI Dept. of Education.