NAGT recognizes the 2025 Outstanding Earth Science Teachers who inspire students in the Earth sciences. We celebrate these exceptional educators who were selected as NAGT OEST State Winners because of their work with students and communities.
Alabama: Shawn Schlumpf
Shawn Schlumpf teaches 6th grade Earth and Space science at Grand Bay Middle School in Grand Bay, Alabama. With seven years of teaching experience, he holds a Master's in Education for General Science and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education, both from the University of South Alabama. Schlumpf received the Golden Apple Award from WKRG News 5 following nomination by his students. He advocates for meeting the needs of all students regardless of disability or exceptionality, emphasizing that physical engagement with curriculum content increases student motivation and attendance. His teaching philosophy centers on creating environments where young scientists can interact directly with the material they study.
Georgia: Eileen Fennelly
Eileen Fennelly is a Lower School Science Lab teacher at The Mount Vernon School in Sandy Springs, Georgia. She has taught for more than twenty years. Over the past 12 years, she taught in the Science Lab, bringing science to life through expeditions in and around Atlanta and the Chattahoochee River. She sponsored the Tree Club, which led to recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation. She is inspired by her time teaching and studying in the Reggio Emelia schools, whose philosophy is that children are capable and responsible learners. She is a graduate of FSU.
Illinois: Fred Fortman
Fred Fortman is a high school science teacher at Geneva High School in Geneva, Illinois. This is Fred's 20th year at Geneva after 3 years at Addison Trail High School. He has coached high school baseball in all but 4 of those years. Fred studied Geology at Augustana College and earned a Master's Degree at Northern Illinois University. Fred strives to bring Geology into the classroom by bringing samples he has collected from around the world into his students' hands. His wife, Jeannie, knows to always bring along an empty suitcase on trips because it will soon get filled with rocks and minerals from wherever they go.
Mississippi: Alisha Halford
Alisha Halford teaches 5th grade math and science at Ackerman Elementary School in Ackerman, Mississippi. She has been teaching for over 15 years. Alisha earned an associate's degree from Holmes Community College, a bachelor's in Elementary Education from Mississippi State University, and is currently pursuing her master's at Arkansas State University. Her teaching philosophy centers on inclusivity and cultural responsiveness. She believes every student brings valuable experiences to the classroom and strives to create a space where all voices are heard and respected. Alisha emphasizes student engagement through cooperative learning and project-based activities that encourage curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Professional development has shaped her instructional approach. Her graduate studies and collaboration with peers have deepened her commitment to relevant, student-centered learning. One highlight includes leading a STEM unit that inspired a student-led recycling program at her school. Outside the classroom, Alisha coaches cheer for the Youth Choctaw Chargers. She is married to her husband of 15 years and has two children, ages 12 and 9.
Nevada: Mary Beth Paladino
Mary Beth Paladino has devoted over twenty years to the Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society, where she has led the Kid's Club Merit Badge program and fosters a love of geology among young learners. A passionate Earth science educator, she has spent more than two decades inspiring students and community members through hands-on learning experiences. As a longtime badge coordinator for Boy Scouts in the Las Vegas area, Mary Beth has guided countless Scouts through the geology badge, attending pack meetings and working with over a dozen packs to build an appreciation for Earth sciences. Mary Beth also volunteers at annual Clark County Science Fairs, where her rock and mineral demonstrations spark curiosity and excitement. In addition to her work with scouting and science fairs, she leads geology demonstrations at branches of the Clark County Library District, including creating a special obsidian presentation to enhance a rocks and volcanoes theme. Through all her efforts, Mary Beth Paladino continues to inspire a lasting passion for geology in young people throughout her community.
North Carolina: Carrie Jones
Dr. Carrie Jones, an 8th grade teacher at Dillard Drive Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, NC, brings 26 years of teaching experience, including 19 years in high school Earth/Environmental Science. She holds degrees from Ohio State University (B.S. Biology, M.Ed. Science Education), North Carolina State University (Ph.D. Science Education), University of Cincinnati (M.Ed. Educational Leadership), and Clemson University (M.S. Biology), and is pursuing Special Education certification from UNC-Charlotte. Currently serving as NSTA Middle Level Division Director and Adjunct Professor at East Carolina University, she received the 2024 American Association of Chemistry Teachers' Teacher of the Year award and a MENSA Gifted Education Fellowship. Dr. Jones facilitates innovative STEM clubs including Kitchen Chemistry, Jewelry, and Animal Science, encouraging students to discover science through everyday activities and develop growth mindsets through trial and error, believing that teaching innovation and outside-the-box thinking prepares students for unknown future challenges.
Oklahoma: Dr. Angie Thomas
Dr. Angie Thomas is an Earth science teacher and mother who transitioned from aerospace to education over a decade ago, bringing hands-on experiences like fossil digs in Colorado and volcanic exploration in Iceland into her project-based classroom. She emphasizes connecting science learning with environmental action, encouraging students to see themselves as scientists and Earth stewards through activities ranging from school gardening to critical thinking exercises. Outside the classroom, she enjoys camping and hiking with her husband and three sons, bringing that sense of adventure into her teaching while crediting her success to a supportive school community that values teachers as professionals and encourages educational innovation.
Oregon: Amy Umbarger
Amy Umbarger joined the teaching profession in 1995 as a junior high, then middle school, life science teacher in Pendleton, OR. She left the classroom to raise her family in 2002 and returned in 2007 part-time as the entire high school science department in Echo, OR. In this setting, she expanded her repertoire to teaching Biology, Advanced Biology, Chemistry, and Earth and Space Science. In 2014, she rejoined the Pendleton School District. At Pendleton High School, she taught multiple disciplines and facilitated the implementation of new curriculum; one being Earth and Space. She strives to create unique hands-on lab experiences for her students, a hallmark of her classroom and teaching philosophy. She aims to foster young problem solvers that contribute to society. She works to lead by example, extending her learning beyond the classroom and volunteering regularly in her community. Her students feel supported, respected, and encouraged by her approach. She earned Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Echo and the Crystal Apple Award, a regional teaching honor in 2014.
Washington: Kyauna Turner
Kyauna is a dedicated math and science teacher at a rural 1B school who excels at creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences for her six daily classes. She consistently brings outside resources into her classroom, including inviting the President of the Panorama Gem and Mineral Club to share specimens and organizing field trips to rock shows, while also coordinating visits from engineers and environmentalists to enhance student learning at no cost to the school. Her teaching approach emphasizes differentiation and individualized support, as demonstrated when she successfully helped a transfer student progress from a 3rd-4th grade math level to grade-appropriate work in just 30 days, and her ability to adapt lessons for varying class sizes and attendance. Beyond classroom instruction, Ky demonstrates exceptional commitment to her students and community through extensive extracurricular involvement, serving as 8th grade class advisor, organizing multiple field trips, and supporting school events on evenings and weekends. She recently attended the National Science Teachers Association conference in Denver and is coordinating a science trip to Costa Rica for 2026, while also facilitating hands-on experiences like aquaponics systems, bringing farm animals to class, and arranging for high school students to teach elementary classes about their crawfish investigations. Her students consistently leave her classes excited to share what they learned, reflecting her success in making science both meaningful and memorable.
Wisconsin: Carol Ochsner
Carol Ochsner has taught geology, chemistry, and physical science at Monroe High School for nearly 30 years, holding degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater (broadfield science education) and River Falls (Master's in teaching physics). Her teaching philosophy centers on the belief that everyone can learn and is a scientist, leading her to develop hands-on curriculum that is both challenging and accessible to all students, including those with disabilities and English language learners. Committed to continuous professional development, Carol participates annually in summer opportunities including Wyoming dinosaur digs with UW-Madison, research fellowships, and content workshops, while also serving as an instructor for the Joint Science and Technology Institute national STEM camp for eight years. Her dedication has earned recognition through the peer-nominated Monroe Lamp of Learning and student-nominated Monroe Impact Award, reflecting her collaborative approach with colleagues and positive impact on students.
State and Section OESTs
The following teachers are recognized as both State and Section Outstanding Earth Science Teachers: Jessica Stellmann (CA); Heidi Bankoff (CO), Dana Smith (MN), Greg Stott (NH), Carolina E. Castro-Skehan (NY), Rebekah L. Stanton (TN), and Stacy M. Ferrell (TX). You can read about these remarkable teachers in theJuly 18 Issue of In The Trenches.
