|
|
|
PWSH & Bowman Teachers Capture TI Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards
April 6, 2011
Karen McNeil, Bowman Middle School science teacher and department chair, and Kathy Fritz, Plano West Senior High School Advanced Placement Statistics teacher, captured the 2011 Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Teaching Awards and were recognized at the April 5 meeting of the Plano ISD Board of Trustees. Karen and Kathy were among six PISD teachers honored for superior teaching by the TI Foundation and the Plano ISD Education Foundation.
Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Award winners Kathy Fritz and Karen McNeil are pictured with Michael Urtso, Plano ISD Education Foundation president, and Arturo Sanchez, TI director of education and workforce development.
Presenting awards to the four finalists and two winners were Michael Urtso, Plano ISD Education Foundation president; Arturo Sanchez, Texas Instruments director of education and workforce development; and Dr. Jim Wussow, Plano ISD executive director for secondary academic services.
STEM Teaching Award Winners
Karen McNeil, Bowman Middle School
With a tremendous passion and heart, Karen McNeil, science teacher and department chair at Bowman Middle School, is inspiring her students in the love of science. Her principal describes her as “someone who believes that every child can learn and truly helps many children come to their very own realization; that they love science!" Karen has a tireless work ethic and describes it as her duty to walk into her classroom every day with the best she has to offer. Karen teachers her students that you can never reach the end of all that can be learned.
Kathy Fritz, Plano West Senior High School
Kathy Fritz, AP Statistics teacher and co-chair of the math department at Plano West Senior High School, is a talented teacher who has enhanced student achievement and increased student interest in math. Kathy’s approach to teaching goes beyond providing instruction for students; she provides an excitement that is engaging. Her belief that curriculum should be dynamic; ever-changing to meet the needs of the students and world around us, is evident in all she does. Kathy is an innovative leader on her campus and in the district mentoring new teachers, assisting the curriculum team and sponsoring student organizations.
STEM Teaching Award finalists and winners were honored by school trustees and sponsoring organizations. Pictured (seated) are Winners Karen McNeil and Kathy Fritz; (standing) Michael Urtso, Plano ISD Education Foundation president; Finalist Deanna Shea; Dr. Jim Wussow, Plano ISD executive director for secondary academic services; Finalist Stacy Bilich; Linda Flack; Plano ISD secondary science coordinator; Finalist Carrie Rios; Dr. Jim Wohlgehagen, Plano ISD secondary math coordinator; Finalist Kristi Wittman; Arturo Sanchez, Texas Instruments; and Monica Shortino, Plano ISD Education Foundation executive director.
STEM Teaching Award Finalists
Stacey Bilich, Schimelpfenig Middle School
An incredible teacher with a deep love for students and passion for science, Stacey Bilich is a science teacher at Schimelpfenig Middle School and is part of the curriculum team. It is easy to see Stacey’s love for science and her students through her classroom which exudes with decorations, funny costumes she wears and the multitude of animals that call her classroom home. Stacey teaches students that science is all around them and there is always something new to learn. Stacey is bringing science to life and her students are learning to share her love for science.
Carrie Rios, Robinson Middle School
A strong leader and visionary teacher, Carrie Rios is a science teacher at Robinson Middle School. Carrie exemplifies what it means to be a great teacher. Carrie is a true leader on her campus sponsoring the Robinson Middle School Environmental Club, Homework Club and serves as an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) site team member. Carrie helps her students understand that science is as easy as “when you look at something and say, ‘I wonder why that happens?’ and then investigating to find the answer”. Carrie encourages her students to be curious and ask questions. After all, as she points out, “Even Einstein asked questions.” Carrie’s unique approach to science is shown through her students’ interest in the classroom.
Kristi Wittman, Vines High School
A teacher with a unique gift to motivate and connect with her students, Kristi Wittman, chemistry teacher and department chair at Vines High School, has a love for chemistry that is contagious. Kristi’s classroom embraces the technological advances to capture the minds of students while incorporating chemistry. Kristi is not only a leader in her classroom but is a leader among her peers. She acts as a mentor for new teachers, member of the AVID site team, member of the Faculty Council and many additional roles at her campus. Kristi demonstrates an outstanding commitment to her students and fellow colleagues.
Deanna Shea, Shepton High School
A teacher who strives to help her students reach their full potential, Deanna Shea teaches AP Biology at Shepton High School. Deanna describes biology as never stagnant and forever changing. Her philosophy for biology can also be seen in her teaching style from a room of models, posters and science toys to her hands-on teaching approach. Deanna describes her students “as the generation that will make amazing new discoveries due to their love of technology and curiosity of life.”
STEM Awards Selection Process
The process for selecting this year’s two TI Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Award recipients started earlier this semester. Each secondary principal was invited to nominate one science, technology or mathematics teacher who exemplifies excellence in teaching of these subjects. Each secondary principal nominated an outstanding candidate, and both principal and nominee completed an application. A judging committee of district educators carefully reviewed all applications and selected six finalists. Each of the finalists received a classroom visit by a final selection committee.
About the STEM Awards
Supporting the improvement of STEM education, the Texas Instruments Foundation offered the Plano ISD Education Foundation and school district the opportunity to recognize outstanding teachers of secondary STEM courses, making a $100,000 donation over the past five years in creation of the TI Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards.
This is the fifth year of the execution of that award program, with six finalists and two recipients named in 2011. Plano ISD appreciates the Texas Instruments Foundation’s leadership in making these awards possible to Plano ISD teachers and in helping raise funds in support of this program as a Plano ISD STEM Partner.
Each of the two selected 2011 winners will receive $10,000 in awards, including a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 for classroom technology and professional development opportunities.
Arturo Sanchez, director of education and workforce development for TI, presented the four finalists and two winners with awards. The Plano ISD Education Foundation further recognized these outstanding teachers by presenting a $500 monetary award to each of the four finalists. The recognition of the six nominees also included a special gift from Plano ISD.
STEM Partners
The Plano ISD Education Foundation created a vehicle for community support called STEM Partners, and last year the Foundation completed a gift of $300,000 over the three years for Plano ISD to assist in the transition of Algebra I instruction to middle school. This school year, the Foundation kicked off its second phase of STEM Partners with a science improvement initiative which is focusing on middle school science and high school chemistry. The Foundation recently gifted its first $75,000 towards our $300,000 pledge over the next four years for this effort.
For the past five years, the STEM teaching awards have been an additional opportunity to award excellent educators in Plano ISD.
|
|
"The Texas Instruments Foundation is honored to recognize these very talented, dedicated and outstanding secondary teachers. These awards recognize their innovative teaching and open new avenues for these teachers to expand their experiences. We know that these teachers will inspire others to foster enthusiasm and generate excitement about science, technology and mathematics as they work with their students and among their colleagues."
~Arturo Sanchez, Texas Instruments
"It is such an honor for the Plano ISD Education Foundation to once again be a part of tonight’s recognition of superior secondary science, technology and mathematics teachers in Plano ISD schools. This is an important partnership of our Foundation with the Texas Instruments Foundation and Plano ISD. All students' successful completion of advanced science, technology and math courses is critical to their future. It is also important to Plano’s corporate and business community, as we are so fortunate to have numerous high tech corporations based in our area."
~Michael Urtso, Plano ISD Education Foundation
"The high caliber of teacher nominees was amazing and reaffirms that Plano ISD teachers are among the most talented professionals in the country. These honorees are very hardworking teachers whose students are energized and successful in the classroom. These teachers demonstrate outstanding teaching skills each day in the classroom."
~Dr. Jim Wussow, Plano ISD executive director for secondary academic services
|
|
