OSTA Science Education Awards

One of the most important functions of the Oregon Science Teacher Association is to recognize outstanding science educators across the state. Each year the OSTA Executive Board selects several individuals for statewide and regional awards, selected by committee from individuals nominated by members of OSTA. The awards are given in four categories.  They are:  

The Fred Fox Distinguished Service to Science Education Award.  This award is named in honor of Fred Fox, a distinguished and well-loved teacher educator now retired from Oregon State University.  The award is intended to honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to mentoring and developing new teachers. It is intended for nominees involved in teacher training programs at the college level, ESD or district administrators or other administrative positions.  The awardee will be selected based on career longevity, breadth of influence, enthusiasm for science and the profession of science education, and the demonstrated ability to motivate.

Award winner for 2011:
Cheryl Kleckner is this years Fred Fox Service to Science Education award recipient. She is the Oregon Department of Education's Science Education Specialist.
 

The Duane Marshall Special Service to Science Education Award.  Duane Marshall was an outstanding career teacher from Newberg High School, active in OSTA, and an important contributor to science education in Oregon.  This award in his name is intended to honor those individuals who, as classroom teachers, have made significant contributions to science teaching in their own classrooms and beyond. The awardee will be selected based on career longevity and body of work, statewide and regional influence, enthusiasm for science, and the ability to motivate students and colleagues alike.

Award winner for 2011:
Jon Yoder is this years Duane Marshall Special Service to Science Education award recipient. Jon is the Science Program Assistant for the Salem-Keizer Public School District.

The Thor Sabo Special Service to the Oregon Science Teachers Association Award.  This award is named in honor of Thor Sabo, a teacher at Hillsboro High School for many years who also served OSTA as President, Executive Director, and who was responsible for helping organize many annual conferences.  This award will be given to an individual who has made significant and long-term contributions of time and effort to supporting the mission of OSTA and to facilitate excellence and continuous improvement in science education.

Award winner for 2011:
Martha Dibblee is this years Thor Sabo Special Service to OSTA award recipient. Martha is a nuclear scientist and president of a nuclear consulting firm in Portland.

The OSTA Outstanding Classroom Teacher Awards (Regional and State).  These awards are meant to recognize and honor the work of outstanding classroom teachers.  We award four of these awards in each region in the categories of Early Career (1-3 years of classroom experience), Elementary, Middle, and High School.  From the regional awardees, the selection committee will select one in each category to be honored with state-level awards.  Awardees will be selected based on their ability to motivate student achievement and excitement in science, community and administrative support, ability to support and mentor new and preservice teachers, and overall contributions to the profession.

Award winner for 2011:
Region 1:
Maureen Daschel - St. Marys Academy High School, Portland

Region 2:
Kent Walcott - Leslie Middle School, Salem
Larry Philbrick - Parrish Middle School, Salem
Benjamin Light - Waldo Middle School, Salem

Region 3:
Toni Taylor - Lowell Jr./Sr. High School, Lowell
Jamie Fereday - recently retired from Sunset Middle School, Coos Bay
Ann Marineau - Madison Elementary, Coos Bay
Georgia Weinblatt - Driftwood Elementary, Port Orford

Region 4:
Janel Reed - White Mt. Middle School, White City
Renee Cool - Marist Catholic High School, Eugene
Lisa Main - North Douglas High School, Drain

Region 5:
Anna Browne - Windy River Elementary School, Boardman

Region 5 Early Career:
Lindy Black - Dayville High School, Dayville
 

These awards are only as important and meaningful as the members of OSTA make them.  Look around you; look at the colleagues in your school, district, and region. Which ones are the hardest working, the most passionate, and the most skilled at exciting students about science and the process of scientific discovery?  Which ones contribute most to the profession of science teaching?  These are the individuals you should be nominating.  The process is simple but can be enormously meaningful.  Fill out the nomination form below, attach a short (100 words or less) description of the nominees unique characteristics and/or accomplishments, and send the nomination to OSTA Awards Chair Cora Clark, South Salem High School 1910 Church St. SE Salem OR 97302 or email it to clark_cora@salkeiz.k12.or.us.

Nominations are open until April 30, 2012.

For further information contact Cora Clark at 503-399-5533, or email at clark_cora@salkeiz.k12.or.us.