OEST Awards
published Dec 12, 2013 10:50amCongratulations to OEST Awardees!
The OESTA winners for 2007 have been selected! It is with great pleasure that we are able to present two honorable mentions, three state winners, and our section winner.
2007 OEST Central Section Awardees:
Honorable Mention: Sue Merrill
Ms. Sue Merrill of Howell, Michigan has been teaching for over thirty years. Sue is known for her love of earth science and is highly respected by students, colleagues, and the Michigan education community. She was instrumental in forming the Michigan Earth Science Teachers' Association and remains an active member.
Honorable Mention: Cheryl Sill
Ms. Cheryl Sill of Zimmerman, Minnesota is a dedicated Earth science teacher at Coon Rapids Middle School in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Cheryl has been teaching for over twenty years and is dedicated to her students. She actively encourages student participation in STEM Science Fairs and is a member of MESTA.
State Winners:
Iowa: Amanda Rae Schiller
Ms. Amanda Schiller of Donnellson, Iowa is highly respected by her colleagues, students, and community. Amanda is described as a "supportive and encouraging" teacher who "takes lessons to the next level, involving the hands on excellence in her classroom, resulting in an open-ended research based opportunity for students to formulate their own scientific ideas." She has taught earth science for the four years and is known for her adaptability and cooperative spirit. Amanda is also known for her ability to motivate student learning. "She hooks them into learning about earth science and then feeds the immense curiosity about science." She contributes to her community through a number of volunteer activities and has participated in a number of professional development opportunities.
Ohio: Chantelle M. Rose
Mrs. Chantelle M. Rose of St. Paris, Ohio has been teaching for eleven years and is very active in professional development, curriculum development, and bringing "real science" to life for her students. Chantelle is considered "a dedicated, student centered, creative teacher" by her colleagues, students, and community. She encourages and empowers her students to participate in scientific research through her professional development contacts. Chantelle is a creative and innovative teacher who works with all students to achieve in science. She created a science course, "Science in Ohio", to motivate students to understand and appreciate the science in their state. Chantelle's professional service is exemplary and she is known from bringing science from her classroom into the community and beyond.
Wisconsin State
and Section Winner: Paul Varsho
Mr. Paul Varsho is the 2007 Central Section recipient of NAGT's Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award. Paul graduated in 1977 from the University of Wisconsin—Madison with a B.A. in Secondary Education. In 1983, he received a Master degree in Professional Development from the University of Wisconsin—Stout.
Paul is an outstanding example of dedication, knowledge, ingenuity, and professionalism in an educator. A teacher at Menomonie Middle School for 27 years, Paul embodies the philosophy that "each child should develop a love of learning and of the natural world, to question why and how things occur, and to develop the thinking skills needed to be literate, contributing citizens in modern society." He uses creative hands-on classroom activities and home and community based assignments to engage his students, bringing earth science to home to them. Paul is known for his enthusiasm which "is backed up by a solid understanding of how to affect student learning, and the ability to reach the whole range of students from the most gifted to the most challenged."
Paul has been a Science Olympiad coach since 1987, going to National six times. He is currently involved in development of the Harvard-based SPARCS teaching reform assessment initiative. He has been selected to participate in a UCAR workshop of Modeling in the geosciences, by NASA to evaluate Centennial of Flight Engineering Design Challenges, by Fullbright to go to Japan to observe their educational system, and by the JASON project to go on the Hawaii expedition and be in the JASON VI project broadcasts. Paul has also been involved with the Boy Scouts of America, is active in the Wisconsin Central Education Association, and a member of the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers.
His accomplishments include a Fullbright Memorial Fund Teacher Award in 2002, JASON VI Teacher Argonaut Selection in 1995, the Wisconsin State Science Teachers Regional Award for Excellence in Science Education in 1990, and receiving National Board Certification in the Area of Adolescent/Young Adulthood Science in 2002.
Congratulations to all of our winners. The awardees will receive their awards this fall or next spring. If you know one of the awardees and wish to present the award, please contact me. We encourage all of you to submit or solicit nominations for the 2008 award. For further information contact Kate Pound at kspound@stcloudstate.edu. Please submit your nominations by June 30, 2008.
The OESTA winners for 2007 have been selected! It is with great pleasure that we are able to present two honorable mentions, three state winners, and our section winner.
2007 OEST Central Section Awardees:
Honorable Mention: Sue Merrill
Ms. Sue Merrill of Howell, Michigan has been teaching for over thirty years. Sue is known for her love of earth science and is highly respected by students, colleagues, and the Michigan education community. She was instrumental in forming the Michigan Earth Science Teachers' Association and remains an active member.
Honorable Mention: Cheryl Sill
Ms. Cheryl Sill of Zimmerman, Minnesota is a dedicated Earth science teacher at Coon Rapids Middle School in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Cheryl has been teaching for over twenty years and is dedicated to her students. She actively encourages student participation in STEM Science Fairs and is a member of MESTA.
State Winners:
Iowa: Amanda Rae Schiller
Ms. Amanda Schiller of Donnellson, Iowa is highly respected by her colleagues, students, and community. Amanda is described as a "supportive and encouraging" teacher who "takes lessons to the next level, involving the hands on excellence in her classroom, resulting in an open-ended research based opportunity for students to formulate their own scientific ideas." She has taught earth science for the four years and is known for her adaptability and cooperative spirit. Amanda is also known for her ability to motivate student learning. "She hooks them into learning about earth science and then feeds the immense curiosity about science." She contributes to her community through a number of volunteer activities and has participated in a number of professional development opportunities.
Ohio: Chantelle M. Rose
Mrs. Chantelle M. Rose of St. Paris, Ohio has been teaching for eleven years and is very active in professional development, curriculum development, and bringing "real science" to life for her students. Chantelle is considered "a dedicated, student centered, creative teacher" by her colleagues, students, and community. She encourages and empowers her students to participate in scientific research through her professional development contacts. Chantelle is a creative and innovative teacher who works with all students to achieve in science. She created a science course, "Science in Ohio", to motivate students to understand and appreciate the science in their state. Chantelle's professional service is exemplary and she is known from bringing science from her classroom into the community and beyond.
Wisconsin State
and Section Winner: Paul Varsho
Mr. Paul Varsho is the 2007 Central Section recipient of NAGT's Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award. Paul graduated in 1977 from the University of Wisconsin—Madison with a B.A. in Secondary Education. In 1983, he received a Master degree in Professional Development from the University of Wisconsin—Stout.
Paul is an outstanding example of dedication, knowledge, ingenuity, and professionalism in an educator. A teacher at Menomonie Middle School for 27 years, Paul embodies the philosophy that "each child should develop a love of learning and of the natural world, to question why and how things occur, and to develop the thinking skills needed to be literate, contributing citizens in modern society." He uses creative hands-on classroom activities and home and community based assignments to engage his students, bringing earth science to home to them. Paul is known for his enthusiasm which "is backed up by a solid understanding of how to affect student learning, and the ability to reach the whole range of students from the most gifted to the most challenged."
Paul has been a Science Olympiad coach since 1987, going to National six times. He is currently involved in development of the Harvard-based SPARCS teaching reform assessment initiative. He has been selected to participate in a UCAR workshop of Modeling in the geosciences, by NASA to evaluate Centennial of Flight Engineering Design Challenges, by Fullbright to go to Japan to observe their educational system, and by the JASON project to go on the Hawaii expedition and be in the JASON VI project broadcasts. Paul has also been involved with the Boy Scouts of America, is active in the Wisconsin Central Education Association, and a member of the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers.
His accomplishments include a Fullbright Memorial Fund Teacher Award in 2002, JASON VI Teacher Argonaut Selection in 1995, the Wisconsin State Science Teachers Regional Award for Excellence in Science Education in 1990, and receiving National Board Certification in the Area of Adolescent/Young Adulthood Science in 2002.
Congratulations to all of our winners. The awardees will receive their awards this fall or next spring. If you know one of the awardees and wish to present the award, please contact me. We encourage all of you to submit or solicit nominations for the 2008 award. For further information contact Kate Pound at kspound@stcloudstate.edu. Please submit your nominations by June 30, 2008.