The Jo Duckett Wallace award goes to an elementary teacher with over 25 years of teaching experience. In the early 90’s she was involved with the NSTA Scope and Sequence Project becoming a master teacher and a contributor to excellent curriculum materials. She was already, at that time, practicing teaching strategies that are now widely advocated for effectively improving students’ understanding of science concepts.

She served as an elementary science facilitator with the NC-PIMS project in eastern North Carolina, and provided excellent instruction and mentoring for the teachers in the region. She has continued that work with Wilson County elementary teachers, providing creative opportunities for their professional enhancement.

The Jo Duckett Wallace Elementary Distinguished Service Award is presented to Cynthia Adams

Ann Watkins Distinguished Service Award Middle School

Our next nominee has served Middle School Science at many levels during his distinguished career of over 30 years. Not willing to completely let go of middle school science education after retirement, he continues to work as an interim science teacher. He just won’t quit touching the lives of students and teachers across the state and beyond!

His enthusiasm and dedication spilled over into extracurricular activities such as science fairs and Science Olympiad, where he fielded winning teams at regional and state levels. He has been active in the NCSTA serving as a district director.

This advocate for science education takes every opportunity to express his dedication to the field and motivates many to choose science related careers. He is that calm, consistent, competent voice that people of his school, his district, and his state take confidence in.

The Ann Watkins Middle School Distinguished Service Award is presented to Kyle Carver.

Nancy Wynn Distinguished Service Award High School

As it gets tougher to purchase classroom materials and equipment with school funds, an individual who is a master at finding external funding sources is a major asset in the science educational field.

This teacher has managed to bring in a variety of resources to enhance the learning environment. She is generous with her time, knowledge and supplies with other teachers, as well.

Her outdoor classroom project is a marvel to behold allowing students to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. One of her students wrote a support letter in which the student detailed a lab that she had two years earlier. She remarked, “I believe that a teacher who can make earth science interesting enough for a student to remember the information two years later is a very remarkable woman!” She is an active member and leader of several professional organizations including NCSTA.

The Nancy Wynn Distinguished Service to Science Education is presented to a teacher from North Lincoln High School. Debbie Michael.

Don Bailey Distinguished Service University

It is rare to find a person who has devoted his entire career so wholeheartedly to science education. During the past decade this nominee has taught future science teachers at the college level. As with all his endeavors, he has given more than was expected to his students. They have been most fortunate to have an opportunity to learn from his more than three decades of experience as a state level science specialist. As a result these new science teachers have entered our profession with a broad view of the various aspects of science education.

I am sure that his students will look back in years to come and count their opportunity to learn about teaching from this man as one of the truly valuable experiences in their educational careers.

The Don Bailey Distinguished Service in Science Education at the College/University level is awarded to Jake Brown.

Administrator/Supervisor

The next recipient is without a doubt one of the leaders of science education in NC.  He has promoted many curriculum changes in his district and has been responsible for receiving many National Science Foundation grants to support these efforts.  He formed an alliance with Wake Forest University where teachers worked with the Medical School in learning how to use science, using the case method as MD's do. 

This educator has held many positions in science education organizations in NC such as NCSTA and NCSELA, formerly the NC Science Supervisor's Assn.  He was one of the founders of the organization and helped it grow into the very active organization that it is.  He was responsible for hosting the first Summer Leadership Conference with the National Science Leadership Association in North Carolina when he was president.  This established NC as a leader in science education and it put the North Carolina chapter on the map nationally. 

His NSF initiatives placed children in environments that made them feel important and gave them a reason to stick out their educational careers. The mother of one student explained that she had lost hope for her son until her was selected into the NSF program. This young man is now a student at NC State University. For school children, his vision is to take science out of the textbooks and put it into the real world of investigation creating meaning and relevance.

The Distinguished Service to Science Education at the Administrator/Supervisor level is presented to Stan Hill.

Non-School

Science educators are not just found in school settings, as the next recipient proves. This man is a very dedicated individual at spreading the word about environmental education. He also actively encourages non-educators to get involved in local education efforts using such programs as Envirothon.

One supporter writes, “ I don’t believe that I would have ever been able to complete my Environmental Education Certificate if it wasn’t for this man’s work. He made me aware of every opportunity for classes and grants. There were a number of grants that I was able to apply for and receive, thanks to his extensive listserv.”

The Distinguished Service to Science Education in a Non School Setting goes to Steve Bennett.

Commercial

Our next award winner has helped to push our state leaders to become more aware of science supply issues in North Carolina schools. She always has a booth at our NCSTA conference and is very helpful to new and experienced teachers, greeting everyone warmly with a smile.

During her tenure with LAB-AIDS Inc. she served on numerous science selection curriculum committees, reviewing curriculum, conducting professional development for area science teachers and helping pilot new inquiry materials. She supports science teachers on a personal level by providing immediate feedback when materials and supplies are needed for teacher training sessions and workshops.

The Distinguished Service to Science Education in a Commercial Setting is presented to Amy Kezman.

Distinguished Service to NCSTA
Paul Taylor

This special award was presented by the NCSTA board to long time board member Paul Taylor for his dedication to the organization and continued maintenance of the NCSTA Trust Fund.

The Vi Hunsucker Award- The Outstanding Science Educator in North Carolina
this award is the highest honor from NCSTA, recognizing individuals who have made a life time commitment to science education, locally, statewide, and nationally, and especially to NCSTA as a leader and officer.

Outstanding Student Teacher in Science Awards
student teachers who have completed their internship and have exhibited excellence in science teaching

The recipient of the Outstanding Student Teacher Award in Elementary School Science has been described as bright, energetic and enthusiastic. Her creative lessons are developmentally appropriate, always offering students a variety of opportunities for active, hands-on, minds-on engagement. She is diligent in her efforts to attend to the needs of the diverse learners in her class. From UNC-Greensboro and General Greene Elementary School of Science and Technology, the Outstanding Elementary School Student Teacher is Kari Thompson Barrett.

Our next recipient always wanted to be a teacher. She was a NC Teaching Fellow while attending UNC-Greensboro. This young woman was a model pre-service teacher, enthusiastic about the teaching profession and always planned interesting lessons with a variety of activities for her students. She became involved outside the classroom as a volunteer giving public chemistry demonstrations at a local mall as part of the American Chemical Society’s National Chemistry week. The Outstanding High School Student Teacher is Elizabeth Williams.

District 1’s award recipient has served in his current position for 18 years. He has provided instruction in a wide array of courses, ranging from biology and physical science to biotechnology, honors environmental science and AP biology. In each subject area, this teacher has demonstrated an intimate knowledge of content and an innate ability to deliver instruction to meet the needs of his learners.

Outside of the classroom, this recipient is involved in a variety of scientific endeavors. Most recently he was invited to work with a group of science educators from across the state who are preparing to implement biotechnology courses on the high school level.

District 1’s Outstanding Science Teacher from Bertie High School in Windsor, NC is Bruce Boller

Middle School teaching brings challenges of its own. The next recipient worked in private industry through the 80s and early 90s developing and managing worksite health promotion programs. She then renewed her teaching license and returned to teaching. Her passion for teaching reaches beyond the classroom. Some of her interests include guiding kayak tours along our beautifully pristine Crystal Coast, volunteering with NC Maritime Museum’s Cape Lookout Studies Program and NOAA Marine Mammal Rescue and Tagging Program.

Her mission is to “teach kids to think” and to keep them learning for a lifetime!

From Newport Middle School in Carteret County, District 2’s Outstanding Middle School Science teacher is Miriam Sutton.

It may be unusual for an exceptional children’s teacher to be recognized by a science teacher’s organization, but this recipient is highly unusual. It is rare when a talented EC teacher can enter as an inclusion instructor and cause the general ed teacher to wonder how she ever got along with the EC teacher’s help. This teacher is bubbling over with creative ideas and the energy and enthusiasm to put them to work. She has even decided to go back to school to enrich her knowledge of science content, as she sees another degree as a tool to help EC children learn science.

From Wayne County, District 2 Outstanding High School Science teacher is Joyce Thorpe

Positive relationships with students, other teachers and parents are vital. Our next recipient works hard to develop these relationships. While relating to her students and their learning needs, she is responsive to the community by staying in constant contact with their families. Her co-workers hold her in high regard as she exhibits professionalism and competence in the area of science.

From Butner-Stem Middle School, District 3’s Outstanding Science Teacher award goes to Emily Carroll Rinker.

Using computer based and calculator based technology in the classroom to teach by the Inquiry based method allows this awardees’ students to seek the underlying principles behind scientific phenomena. She is very involved in the Science Olympiad and conducts professional development training for other teachers.

Her love of children and dedication to science is second to none. From Cumberland County and 71st Classical Middle School, District 4’s Outstanding Science Teacher award goes to Emily Land Taylor.

The first educator honored has brought the world of science to her school and the grounds of the school by designing a curriculum and learning spaces related to that curriculum. She has fostered stewardship of the land and water with her innovative projects. In addition to teaching lessons herself that support the curriculum, she mentors other classroom teachers. Her model program as a science specialist has been visited by many other districts.

Reaching out to parents, this teacher has organized parent volunteers to assist in the science lab and at many school-wide events. The Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher for District 5 from Frank Porter Graham elementary is Livy Ludington.

Promoting excellent science teaching in North Carolina is one of the many things this next recipient does well. Not only does she teach a full load of classes, but she volunteers countless hours outside the classroom.

This teacher is known for leading other science teachers to pursue professional development. She helps develop curriculum support materials for DPI, reads and reviews other support documents, and edits middle grades science textbooks. Being AAIG certified, she has worked with other AG teachers to develop creative and challenging activities for students.

The list could go on and on, but one thing is for sure, NCSTA could not get along without her. She has served in a variety of capacities within our organization. You might know her best as president-elect. Outstanding Middle School Science teacher from District 5 Beverly Lyons

Our next recipient entered teaching by way of lateral entry. She utilizes her previous employment as a means to illustrate real life problems in the classroom, connecting science to useful and practical applications. She has gone on to become National Board Certified. Her absolute engagement with her discipline, enthusiasm for teaching, and willingness to take on all tasks inspires those around her to take action- teachers, students and parents.

This teacher is compassionate and caring. She has made a difference in the lives of many students by expecting the best, while giving the support needed to reach that level. From Jordan Matthews High School, district 5’s Outstanding HS Science teacher is Victoria Raymond

This next nominee has been described as a delightful person who is focused on her students and their active engagement in learning about science. She has been a mentor to many and often speaks of all she has learned from those she mentors. She has even traveled as far as Ecuador and Japan to learn about other cultures, share her interest in science and experience science in the field. This teacher is eager to share knowledge with her peers and conducts workshops to that effect. District 6’s Outstanding High School Science Teacher from North Lincoln HS is Linda Yoder.

Sometimes our best teachers enter the field from a different route. The next recipient is one such teacher. She intended to practice veterinary medicine. Fortunately for Davie High School students her road led to them. This teacher implements fun activities, group work and multiple hands-on laboratories in her weekly instructional practices to create a more enjoyable and yet, well paced learning environment. She is a certified Destiny Bus instructor and has worked with Science Olympiad and Envirothon competitions. Students are much better prepared for critical thinking in science related careers and for university courses when they leave her classroom. District 7’s Outstanding Science Teacher is Georgia Taylor

Teaching children by creating opportunities to apply their knowledge of science, arranging teaching experiences in which young scientists take their newly acquired knowledge to students in younger grades- doesn’t this sound exciting? This outstanding science teacher does just that. This requires an incredible amount of energy and preparation. She welcomes challenges and seems to thrive on difficult situations.

She has written several grants to provide science supplies at her school. She continually participates in staff development opportunities to enhance her classroom presentations and her personal goal as a life-long learner. The District 8 Outstanding Middle School teacher from Cane Creek Middle School in Buncombe County is Linda Walker

Although the next award recipient is not a teacher in the science department at his school, he uses his teaching area (Metals Manufacturing Technology) to promote success in all of his students and to help them see the interconnections of science, math and applied technology. He has a knack for reaching a broad range of students from the most advanced of AP students to the student with severe learning disabilities.

After a successful career in industry, this man brings innovation, enthusiasm and motivation to the classroom. He helped a student create the “actual” from the theoretical, with the student being selected to travel to China to present his project. From Asheville HS, District 8’s Outstanding HS teacher is Bill Hendley