Do you know a science educator that exemplifies excellence in teaching? It is never too early to nominate a teacher for an NCSTA. Visit the Awards Headquarters (www.ncsta.org/awards/) for more information and a nomination form.

• 2002 NCSTA Award Winners
• 2002 Conservation Education Teacher of the Year

2002 NCSTA Award Winners This year's awards ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Ann Watkins who has coordinated the awards program and MC'd the awards ceremony at the President's Reception for many years. Ann passed away this year from cancer. To honor Ann, NCSTA commissioned a portrait that will hang at Brewster Middle School where she taught science.

Close friend and NCSTA Conference Coordinator Peggy Holliday stands with Ann's portrait.

Distinguished Service to Science Education Awards
Educators in different categories who exhibit excellence in their area of science education and have made significant contributions to science education beyond their local area.

Middle School/ Ann Watkins Award	Janet Pearce Bailey	Wake County
	Janet, is a native of Franklin County. She has taught middle school science in Franklin County and Wake County for over 20 years. As a state-wide leader and national trainer for the FAST Program Janet has help convert hundreds of teachers into experts in inquiry based teaching. They, in turn have developed the unique skills of inquiry in their students. Clara Stallings said-"It is very fitting that Janet Bailey receive this award named in honor of Ann Watkins. All of us who knew Ann admired her "tell it like it is" philosophy, her wit, and her sense of humor. Ann worked hard for science education and was an advocate for the unique and challenging facets associated with middle school learners. All these descriptors of Ann also describe Janet Bailey. I am thankful she has the special touch required to connect with middle school students. She is a proven leader for science education in North Carolina."
High School	Sarah Smith	Mecklenberg County
	Sarah has been a science teacher in North Carolina for 25 years. She began her teaching career 32 years ago in Arkansas and then taught in South Carolina before coming to Charlotte. Sarah currently teaches at Garringer High School where she has served as department chair for the past three years. Sarah is a very enthusiastic participant and leader within the school system. She reaches beyond Charlotte through her efforts as a professional developer in cooperation with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Sarah is also well known as a GPS and GIS trainer. Sarah served NCSTA as secretary for a number of years and most recently she has stepped in to fill her district’s director’s position when the elected board member resigned. She is also presently serving on the national level as a member of the National Science Teachers Association’s High School Committee.
University	Dr. Philip Dail	NC State University
	Phil Dail began teaching science in Edgecombe County in 1967. Since that time he has been one of the movers and shakers in North Carolina’s science education effort. His exceptional talent as a science teacher was recognized in nineteen eighty five as North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year. From high school teaching, Phil moved to N.C. State University where he taught chemistry and worked on a variety of projects. Today he serves ad Director of Advising and Admissions for the College of textiles. Phil Dail is known as Mr. Science Olympiad in North Carolina. Phil coached his first Science Olympiad team in nineteen eighty one. The experience changed him and in turn it changed Science Olympiad in our state. In succeeding years served as a Regional Tournament Director, State Director, National Tournament Director, Member of the Board of Directors for the National Science Olympiad, and Chair of the Chemistry Event Committee for the National Science Olympiad. He was responsible for North Carolina State University’s decision to host the State Science Olympiad in nineteen ninety eight. Today the state tournament is a fixture on the state campus. Students all over our state have benefitted from you efforts. Congratulations Phil.
Administrator/Supervisor	Clara Stallings	NC Department of Public Instruction
	Clara Stallings has served as the Middle Grades Science Specialist at the Department of Public Instruction for more than a decade. Clara has encouraged teachers, cajoled principals, and promoted middle grades science before a wide variety of audiences. Her firm belief in the need for students to learn about their world by inquiry and active investigation is contagious. In workshops and presentations Clara has promoted the integration of science and math with social studies and language arts. Teaching for mastery and transfer have been her mantra. Clara has been tenacious in her effort to ensure that every student in North Carolina will participate in a comprehensive science program which will prepare them to be effective citizens in the modern world. More recently, Clara has been the driving force behind the statewide effort to make school laboratories safe places for students and teachers. The Total Science Safety System is well known across our state in large measure because of Clara’s work. New requirement in the North Carolina’s Safe Schools Act can be traced to Clara’s insistence that every school must to be properly equipped with safety equipment. From conducting safety walk throughs, to developing safety standards in cooperation with other state and federal agencies, and presenting workshops for teachers and administrators Clara has made our schools safer for all of us.
Non-School	Bill Palmer	Rowan County
	Bill Palmer has been a fixture at NCSTA’s Annual Meeting for more years than most of us can remember. Together he and his wife Anne have been the record keepers for our organization for more than eighteen years.. Among other tasks Bill revised our handbook every year, kept up with changing database software, printed labels and mailed out registration confirmations. If you need to find Bill you can always find him in or near the registration booths. He assists Anne every year in trouble shooting registrations and handling the finances of the organization from collecting funds to paying bills.Bill is also a fixture at NCSTA Board meetings. No one knows more about the history and the workings of the organization. People like Bill Palmer have made our organization the strong voice for Science Education in North carolina it is today. We owe him and all the other volunteers a debt of gratitude.
Commercial	Frank Wypasek
	Frank has sponsored the NCSTA Past President’s Breakfast since the mid 1980s when he was a representative for Holt Rinehart and Winston and since 1995 has been with Prentice Hall. Having worked first, with The Economy Company in Oklahoma, and later in NC with Globe Books, Frank is well known and respected in North Carolina. He has always reached out to teachers and does what he can for us. When Peggy calls and asks if Prentice Hall is to sponsor the Past President’s Breakfast again he always replies, “Of course, you just order the breakfast and I’ll get the bill.” The Past Presidents know him well because by sponsoring the breakfast, he allows them to meet one another and enjoy an hour together each year. Frank taught physical education and English to elementary, middle and high school students in the late 70s. He also founded a business where he taught tennis and gymnastics. Frank was always one to be concerned with others. In his early years as a textbook representative, he became the President of the Bookman’s Association. His wife Janice says he’s done that for a L O N G time. The current apple-of-his-eye is his one-year-old grandson, Logan – thanks to daughter, Alison and her husband, Mark who live in Atlanta. He also has a daughter, Kimberly, who lives in Raleigh. Go by the Prentice Hall booth and thank that white-haired man – who still thinks he’s blonde – for all he’s done over the years for you through NCSTA. Frank, we appreciate you and your help. Congratulations on receiving this award.

The Vi Hunsucker Award- The Outstanding Science Educator in North Carolina Tonya Hancock This years winner of the Vi Hunsucker Award is know across North Carolina as a true southern lady. As a classroom teacher she has gently lead thousands of students to understand how the world around them works. She has done that by teaching them to observe events around them, record their observations, and analyze their observations to arrive at a conclusion. Her love and understanding of her students and coworkers is well known by all those who work with her. Beyond the classroom she has presented hundreds of staff development programs to assist teachers in learning the skills she mastered long ago. She has also served as president of the North carolina Science Teachers Association and is currently serving as president of the North Carolina Science Leadership Association. She has lived in Raleigh for many years with her husband Preston where she enjoys her children and her grand children. Ladies and gentlemen please join me in welcoming this years recipient of the Vi Hunsucker Award – Mrs. Tonya Hancock.

Middle School Student Teacher of the Year Award Carol Hampton Award Marie Milliner Enthusiastic, committed, creative and motivational are words her cooperating teachers used to describe Marie Milliner as she student taught her sixth grade students at Southeastern Randolph Middle School last Spring. During her student teaching, Marie utilized technology, lab activities and projects to “turn on” her students to science. The students were active participants in the science inquiry process. Her cooperating teachers also stated that “she genuinely loved the students and that her zeal to impart her knowledge upon the students was so refreshing.” Marie’s advisor described her as “interested in “life” and all the opportunities and challenges that accompany it.” Marie is a mother of four boys. She had often worked and volunteered in school and scouting settings and decided she wanted to teach young adolescents so she completed her degree in Middle School Education at High Point University. Marie is currently teaching at Southeastern Randolph Middle school.

District Outstanding Science Teacher Awards
Teachers in each district of NCSTA who exhibit excellence in teaching science and leadership in their school in science education.

District #1	Mary Ann Hodges	Manteo Middle School, Dare County
	May Ann’s principal said, “Mrs. Hodges’ persistence, consistency, and genuine concern for students are evident. She teaches skills and re-teaches as needed. She instills the need for organization and models those expectations within the classroom. She integrates technology in the classroom by creating and teaching lessons that require the use of computers. Her hands on approach to teaching and learning support her aspirations that all students will be successful”. A fellow teachers said, “Mary Ann is an example to us all. She coaches both spring and fall sports, always has time to offer assistance, and guides us without our awareness. She attained National Board status in two thousand and one and has serves as a presenter at the North Carolina Middle School Conference. Like the energizer Bunny, Mary Ann has the energy we envy; combine that with her knowledge, her love of children and learning, her outreach to communities and the community, and she is the teacher we all hope to be.”
District #3	Lowell Ziegler	West Cary Elementary School, Wake County
	Lowell has been teaching middle school science for 15 years. His students learn to share his love for science through many creative activities. Lowell has been a FAST trainer for the past eight years and was one of the first to implement the use of technology in his instruction. Early in his teaching career, Lowell worked with Horizon Research to develop the Project Earth Science Curriculum. He worked on the Oceanography, Meteorology, Astronomy, and Geology books. Although he has mainly taught eighth grade science, this year Lowell is teaching photography at the year round West Lake Middle School. In addition he is coaching his third team of students preparing for competition in the LEGO League. The students build robots with the LEGO Mindstorm System and compete with students from other schools.
District #3	Elizabeth Woolard	Enloe High School, Wake County
	Elizabeth has been teaching science for 35 years. Thirty four of those years have been at Enlow High School. Liz is the kind of teacher we all aspire to be. Her AP and IB students may be found in the hall or on the campus grounds exploring ideas and collecting data. Before and after school as well as during lunch, you will find students working in her class and laboratory. Liz shares her excitement and love of physics with her students while demanding and receiving excellence in academic achievement. She frequently receives thank you notes from both former students and parents who appr4ciate the knowledge that her students receive in Physics. Liz has her National Board Certification and has received the Presidential Award of Excellence in Teaching. She has served as the Science Department Chair at Enlow High School for the past six years. In that capacity she has mentored and encouraged new teachers to create excitement in science learning.
District #4	Orvil White	Southview High School, Cumberland County
	A fellow teacher said “Look no further! You have found the most qualified candidate for” Science Teacher of the Year in District four. Mr. White truly exemplifies the science teaching profession. He gets students excited about science by connecting their classroom knowledge to the “real world”. More importantly, he gives students a sense of confidence and accomplishment by having high expectations for all students. Orvil worked on the implementation of earth science in the schools across Cumberland County, and served on the NCSTA Board and served as the association’s first web master. He has presented at this conference in years past as well as the National Science Teacher’s Association’s national meeting. Still, his greatest gift is as an earth science teacher where he introduces new generations of students to the world they live in.
District #5	Penny Farmer	Pine Hall Elementary School, Stokes County
	Her principal said of her. Penny is a dedicated life-long learner. The courses she takes are focused on integrating the Standard Course-of-Study in a way that will reach the total child. Penny has a comprehensive knowledge of the disciplines she teaches. She works with her students to resolve the problems and challenges they bring from their homes so that they can become more effective learners. Penny also serves as a support person for her fellow faculty members. She has unique talents which allow her motivate, encourage, and guide the students, colleagues and all those with whom she comes in contact.
District #7	Jane Crosby	Statesville High School, Iredell County
	One of her nominators said....” Mrs. Crosby is a scientist who loves to teach. During an observation, Jane began a lesson for “High Risk” Earth Science Students by saying, "the main objective for this course is for you to become scientists, learning to investigate and gain a greater understanding of the earth you inhabit." These words of becoming young scientists, investigators for understanding was a powerful statement for all education. I have found myself holding other educators to the standard set by this teacher. Statesville High School has a very diversified population including a large group of “at risk” students. Mrs. Crosby elects to teach academic science classes hosting a most diversified group of students. She builds positive relationships with students through her caring attitudes and builds their respect through high expectations of their work. Jane believes, she can impact students in a most positive way by encouraging them to become investigators of their surroundings and becoming successful learners. Her methods used in the classroom activate students learning.
District #8	Marta Johnson	Haw Creek Elementary School, Alamance County
	A recent observer in Marta’s classroom commented that “her students were so engaged they never knew I had entered the room. As I approached a group of students, they could hardly contain themselves in terms of their enthusiasm and wanting to share the activities with me. They readily made me a part of their group, explained the concept they were working with and had me actively engaged within one or two minutes.” Ms. Johnson incorporates math and science into every subject area. She makes lessons interesting and compels students, by the nature of the lessons, to be engaged in classroom activities and instruction. She epitomizes the art of being able to integrate all areas of the curriculum and make appropriate “real life” connections.

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2002 Conservation Education Teacher of the Year
Steve Bennett

Two North Carolina Teachers win State and National honors in the 2002 National Conservation Education Teacher of the Year Competition.

Denise Coulter, high school teacher at the Fred T. Foard High School, who now teaches at East Lincoln High School, was selected as the State winner of the 2002 NACD-Syngenta Conservation Education Teacher of the Year Competition.

Denise an exceptional science teacher was selected as the state winner in August of 2002 by the N.C. Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts. Her entry was then entered into the National Competition. She was selected as the First Place National Teacher of the Year for her hard work in establishing an exceptional environmental education program at the Fred T. Foard High School in Catawba County.

Denise wrote and developed three curriculums, wildlife, environmental science and coastal resources that she taught. She also developed a nature trail which she used to teach many of her classes on subjects such as: wetlands, ecology, wildlife and habitat, stream ecology, insect id, plant id, diversity of plants and wildlife from the uplands to stream side. She also had an aquatic biology program of identification of plants and animals, an outdoor classroom, and made effective use of local and state resource personnel. She also sponsored and served as advisor to an Envirothon team and was sponsor of the Science Olympiad Program.

For winning the state, Denise was awarded a plaque, $350 dollars in prize money and expense money to attend the State Meeting in January. She won $1,000.00 for winning the National Competition and an expense paid trip to the national NACD Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Susie Miller of Sparta Elementary School in Alleghany County, was selected as the elementary teacher of the year by the N C Association of Soil & Water Conservation Dsitricts. Susie an excellent fifth grade teacher was the first place state winner. She finished in the top four at the National Contest and came close to winning first place in the national competition.

Susie saw a natural bog on the school grounds, around which she developed an excellent education program. She got the entire community involved along with the school. They put in birdhouses, bat houses, out door classrooms, natural areas, brush piles, a butterfly garden, old log exhibits, wildlife areas and bird watching areas. At the center of this was the natural mountain bog with its native vegetation, which served as the focal point. She wrote and received many grants to accomplish her goals. She also made excellent use of local resource personnel.

Susie is also an Envirothon advisor and has three teams this year. She also won $350.00 in prize money, a plaque and an expense paid trip to the State Association Meeting.

For more information on entering the 2003 competition, contact Steve Bennett at 919-571-4700 or steve.bennett@ncmail.net