On Saturday, April 11th, I attended the Golden Apple Finalist Awards brunch.  What an honor!  I am completely humbled by this honor and am incredibly thankful to work where I do.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me in my teaching career!  A special thank you to everyone who played a part in Golden Apple's Site visit the week before spring break!  Thank you!!!  

On Thursday, October 23rd, I was recognized as a 2014 K-6 Illinois Science Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teachers (PAEMST). 

This is an incredible honor and I am completely humbled by my selection.  The other three finalists were also in attendance and I was in complete awe of their accomplishments in science teaching.  The awardee will find out sometime in 2015. 

To find out more about the PAEMST, use this link.  

In July I found out that I am a state-level finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) again!  I was a state-level finalist in 2012, so here's hoping to good news this year.  I will be honored in October at the Morton Arboretum along with the other three science finalists from our state.  Thank you to everyone who helped me to apply for this prestigious honor.  From video taping, to editing, to writing letters of recommendation, I am thankful for the colleagues, parents, and administrators who believe in my work as a teacher to help me reach this professional goal.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Back in 2012, my application focused on my teaching of engineering at the Kindergarten level.  My 2014 application focused on 5th graders!  Fingers crossed!  

(PAEMST) are the nation's highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science). Since 1983, more than 4,200 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.   

Awards are given to mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

The award recognizes those teachers who develop and implement a high-quality instructional program that is informed by content knowledge and enhances student learning.  Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.   

Recipients of the award receive the following:

• A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
• A paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
• A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

In addition to recognizing outstanding teaching in mathematics or science (including computer science), the program provides teachers with an opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation. This growing network of award-winning teachers serves as a vital resource for improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and keeping America globally competitive.

Great teaching inspires us. The Fishman Prize honors amazing teachers with $25,000 and the chance to share their knowledge with educators nationwide. 

This year, 4,263 excellent teachers were nominated and 826 teachers applied from nearly all 50 states, making 2014 the most competitive year yet. Only 100 were selected for the Honor Roll. Of those, 21 were selected as semi-finalists, and only 10 were selected as finalists.  I made it to the Semi-Finalist round!  What an honor! 

Thanks for sharing in my joy!  

On Monday, April 21st, I met with a team of professionals working to develop and maintain a shared and sustained understanding of school components that support STEM education.  We considered community partnerships, parent involvement, administrative and teacher components, and most importantly, student outcomes!   It is an honor to be serving on this committee over the next three years and I am very excited about this work.

In the picture to the left, I am working with Mary Koppal, who is the Communications Director for Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  She is one of the amazing group of people I am honored to work with.  

Illinois has officially joined the ranks of states that have adopted the Next Generation Science Standards. Although the state board of education voted to adopt the standards in late January, that move was pending review by a legislative committee. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules issued a certificate of "no objection" to the adoption at the end of February, and that rule appeared in March. The standards will be implemented in the 2016–17 academic year. Ten other states and the District of Columbia have adopted the standards. Read more here.

Congratulations to all the teachers that were selected as the 2012 Finalists for the PAEMST!  A huge congratulations to Bryan Lake, who won the science award for IL!  I know Bryan personally and he is beyond-deserving of the award!

On Friday, October 25, 2013, I was awarded the ISTA Outstanding Science Teaching/ExxonMobil Award.  The award is given to K-6 grade science teachers who have demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in the field of science teaching.  I was completed honored to receive such an award.  Other teachers in Chicago Public Schools received honors, too!  We all managed to pose for a picture after the luncheon at the IL Science Educators Conference in Tinley Park, IL.  (Online Article)

Pictured:  Dr. Wendy Jackson (DePaul University), Sergio Hernandez, Emily Dawson, Ashley Frantzen, Gretchen  
                                                                               Brinza, and Hethyr Tregerman (Loyola University)

Below are some pictures I took during the week at GBC.  It was a great experience connecting with teachers from all over, sharing ideas and learning together.   I am excited to bring back some of these ideas to school!