NSTA Videos Feature 2009 Award Winners

Every science teacher looking for a grant or award will be pleased to learn that the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) offers several opportunities for teachers each year (scroll to the bottom to learn more). NSTA recently announced the winners of the 2009 awards and also provided videos of some of the awardees. The videos offer insight into what the awards mean to these teachers, how they heard about them, and why they decided to apply for them in the first place.

For starters, check out the video featuring Chris Campbell, a teacher at Simsboro High School in Simsboro, Louisiana, who was a 2009 recipient of a Vernier Technology Award. When applying for an award, he recommends that "it helps if you have a good idea, something you believe in, and go for it."

Anitra Cooper, a teacher at Peeples Middle School in Jackson, Mississippi, was a 2009 recipient of the Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers. She applied for the award because it "allowed [her] to see and meet other scientists and science educators and to be around colleagues that share the same experiences, same zeal, and excitement for the world of science."

Deborah Cornelison, a science teacher at Byng Junior High School in Ada, Okla., was the 2009 recipient of the Shell Science Teaching Award from the National Science Teachers Association. "Initially," she shares on the video, "ten thousand [dollars] gets your attention. And then I started looking at the criteria and it's quite a process. But I thought I'd been working for a long time and I thought my students and I [met the] criteria and standards so i gave it a shot."

Tim Couillard, a teacher at James River High School in Midlothian, Virginia, was a 2009 recipient of the Ciba Foundation Exemplary Science Teaching Award. "It's very inspirational to be able to meet some of the other award winners and be inspired. It makes you want to go back and do things better and [...] rekindle your passion."

Fred Johnson, 1997-1998 NSTA President, was awarded the prestigious 2009 Robert H. Carleton Award from the National Science Teachers Association. "To be recognized by my peers is a very humbling experience."

Craig Jones, a principal at Western Branch Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia, was a 2009 recipient of the Ciba Foundation Middle Level and High School Principal Awards. When asked how he originally became involved with science education, he responded, "I think I [...] started early on. I also had an outstanding teacher that kind of honed the interest. This is something she enjoyed, so i [...] began to enjoy it as well."

Pamela Osborne, a teacher at Peeples Middle School in Jackson, Mississippi, received a 2009 Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers. "This award has meant the world to me. It's allowed me the opportunity to meet authors and researchers from all around the nation and to just have the opportunity to dialogue with them."

Susan Rosenberg, a teacher at The Frances and Herbert Brody Preschool of Temple Bnai Or in Morristown, New Jersey, was a 2009 recipient of the Zula International - NSTA Early Science Educator Award. "I applied for this award because I felt I had some innovative and exciting ideas that I wanted to share with other teachers and I knew if I won the award I would be able to do that."

The final video featurres Sheryl Sotelo, a teacher at McNeil Canyon Elementary School in Homer, Alaska, who was a 2009 recipient of a Vernier Technology Award. According to Sheryl, winning the award is "a validation that science learning is very important, that field science opportunities for kids are critical."