Atlanta's top science educators took center stage at the Siemens Science Teacher Awards Ceremony at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Award recipients earned a trophy -- and trophy case -- to emphasize the importance of celebrating math and science excellence in the city's schools.
Photos by Chris Herrin Photography Left to right: Dennis Sadlowski, CEO, Siemens Energy and Automation; Christine Bean, Vice President of Education, Fernbank Museum of Natural History; Carrie Porter, Crabapple Middle School, Roswell; Olamipo Awoyemi, McNair High School, Atlanta; June Jones, Sequoyah Middle School, Doraville; Ann M. Davis, Shamrock Middle School, Decatur; Annie Frazer, Arbor Montessori, Decatur; Rochelle Hamby, North Springs Charter of Arts & Sciences High School, Sandy Springs; Frankie Long, Sutton Middle School, Atlanta; Portia Gayle, Harper Archer Middle School, Atlanta; Patricia Caldwell, Richard Hull Middle School, Duluth; Ken Leach, Collins Hill High School, Suwanee; Susan Neugent, President and CEO, Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
McNair High School
Atlanta, GA
Subjects Taught: Physical Science and AP Environmental Science.
Years Teaching: 2 years.
Education: B.S and M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience and a M.Ed. in Science Education from Georgia State University.
Inspiration to become a teacher: After obtaining a B.S. in Biology, Olamipo decided he did not want to pursue a career in medicine. Instead, he listened to a friend’s advice and tried substitute teaching. He never looked back.
Accomplishments: Olamipo helps students overcome their anxieties about science and math while helping them discover new career paths. He will be one of the first teachers in his school to implement the new Earth Systems course. Olamipo keeps his students engaged by incorporating current events into his Environmental Science lessons.
Richard Hull Middle School
Duluth, GA
Subjects Taught: 8th grade Physical Science (PROBE/Gifted).
Years Teaching: 5 years.
Education: B.S. with a dual major in Biology and Chemistry from Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Prior to becoming a teacher, Patricia worked as a scientist in research, forensic science and materials science/trademark protection. As a project manager, she trained people in labs and realized that teaching was how she could have a meaningful impact as a scientist.
Accomplishments: Patricia helps students develop a view of how much science and math are connected to their lives. To demonstrate this point, she incorporated environmental studies into a math class and had students analyze data based on their water usage.
Shamrock Middle School
Decatur, GA
Subjects Taught: 6th grade Earth Science.
Years Teaching: 18 years.
Education: B.S. in Biology from the College of Old Westbury, SUNY and City College, City University of New York. M.S. in Health Services Administration from the Central Michigan University.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Ann Marie is passionate about contributing to the success of our children and our world. Her most significant influence was her mentor, Mr. Sydney Thompson, a nuclear physicist at College at Old Westbury in New York.
Accomplishments: Ann uses Robotics of First Lego League to inform students about global warming and find solutions through sustainable energy. She also incorporates Alpha Smart computers into her classes, allowing her students to have mini-computers which are linked to her computer. Ann’s students have conducted biological inventories of their open green spaces by participating in the UrbanWatch Atlanta program and created a garden using plants native to Georgia.
Arbor Montessori School
Decatur, GA
Subjects Taught: 7th and 8th grade Language, Science, and Social Studies.
Years Teaching: 7 years.
Education: B.A. in English and Theater from Oberlin College and a M.Ed. from Stanford University with a focus on teaching English.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Annie’s inspiration comes from showing students how the science they need to know connects with work done in the real world that benefits themselves and the community.
Accomplishments: Together with her school, Annie created an organic garden. Her students help restore native plant species to the school’s campus and neighboring properties. Annie’s students have also conducted an energy audit of their campus in order to make energy saving recommendations to the school’s Buildings and Grounds Committee.
Harper Archer Middle School
Atlanta, GA
Subjects Taught: 7th grade Life Science.
Years Teaching: 9 years.
Education: B.S. in Biology from Marymount College and a M.Ed. from Mercy College. Portia is currently working on administrative add-on at Kennesaw State University.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Portia was inspired early in her life by her 3rd grade science teacher. Her instructor’s love for science sparked Portia’s own desires to teach.
Accomplishments: Portia concentrates on providing her students with more experiences. To teach the art of dissection, Portia provides lab coats and real tools. Her students feel like scientists and absolutely love it. Her classroom is filled with positive energy.
North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences
Atlanta, GA
Subjects Taught: 10th-12th grade Physical Science, ESOL Physical Science, and Advanced Placement Chemistry.
Years Teaching: 9 years.
Education: B.A. in Chemistry from Emory University, an M.A. in Science Education from Georgia State University, and National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult Science. Rochelle is currently enrolled in a Leadership Program at the University of Georgia.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Rochelle has always loved science and knew she would have a career in the field. Dean Joseph Moon at Oxford College of Emory University saw Rochelle’s love for teaching and encouraged her to pursue her current career.
Accomplishments: Rochelle takes her students outdoors to learn physical science by creating their own compasses as part of her lessons on magnetism. She also teaches students the importance of research, grant writing, and performing experiments.
Sequoyah Middle School
Doraville, GA
Subjects Taught: 7th grade Life Science.
Years Teaching: 27 years.
Education: Undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University and graduate work at Atlanta University Center.
Inspiration to become a teacher: June always knew she would be an educator but it wasn’t until her 10th grade biology class that she became hooked on science. Her biology teacher, Ms. Davis, and her mother were major influences at the start of June’s career.
Accomplishments: June enjoys seeing initially disinterested students become excited and involved in the dissection unit she teaches every year. It is especially rewarding to have her dissection lessons spark interest in medicine among her students.
Collins Hill High School
Suwanee, GA
Subjects Taught: Biology and Oceanography.
Years Teaching: 21 years.
Education: B.S. in Biology from Appalachian State University, M.Ed. and Ed.S. in Science Education from the University of Georgia.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Ken’s 7th grade science teacher made him realize he wanted to pursue a career in education.
Accomplishments: Ken receives the most satisfaction from introducing the joys of discovery. By using a coral propagation farm, Ken teaches his students about ocean conservation and sustainability. He also has his students do a forest population count on the school’s campus, in which the students identify, map, and count the trees on campus by using the sampling method.
Sutton Middle School
Atlanta, GA
Subjects Taught: ESOL.
Years Teaching: 25 years.
Education: M.Ed. from Georgia State University and ESOL endorsement from Berry College.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Frankie recognized the importance of teaching language in context and wanted to engage students in experience learning.
Accomplishments: Frankie’s ESOL students participate in the UrbanWatch program. He also has experts come into his class to teach “Kitchen Science.”
Crabapple Middle School
Roswell, GA
Subjects Taught: 8th grade Physical Science.
Years Teaching: 8 years.
Education: B.A. in Elementary and Middle School Education from the University of Memphis. Carrie is currently pursuing an M.A. in Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix.
Inspiration to become a teacher: Carrie learned early in life that she was born to be a teacher. Her early influences were her mother and father as well as her 8th grade American History teacher.
Accomplishments: Carrie staged a mock environmental spill in which her students had to test the substances and determine a plan for containment and removal of these substances from the water.
